The laws of football evolve slowly. Very slowly. Almost at a glacial pace. But watching various sports in this lovely (if wet) summer of Olympics on our doorstep shows how other sports develop and innovate, to preserve and develop the qualities and challenges of that sport. That begs the question: what rule changes could football adopt that would improve it?
The guardians of the rules of the game are the eight members of FIFA’s International Football Association Board. Half of those members are from FIFA itself, the other half from each of the English, Scottish, Welsh and Northern Irish FAs – this is one of the privileges afforded to the Brits in recognition of having codified and developed the game more than 100 years ago. Personally, I think that structure should be ditched but that’s not relevant right now.
As a preliminary point, I’m not going to say much about goal-line technology. The case for it at the elite level of football is obvious, and the IFAB and Blatter finally realised that they just had to accept it. The only issue now is working out the most suitable technology. But beyond goal-line technology, what could improve the game? Here are my thoughts:
Sin-binning:
Field hockey does it. Ice hockey does it. Handball does it. Both forms of rugby do it. So why not football? How often do we see a soft yellow card awarded and a little while later for there to be another incident, perhaps more deserving of a yellow than the first, but which means the referee has a dilemma; should a second yellow be given, with the consequence that the player and his team would suffer the disproportionate punishment of losing a player for the rest of the game? Or should the incident be ignored, despite it meriting punishment beyond a free-kick? Then there are the cynical offences, where a player takes a yellow for the team, knowing that there is no real consequence for illegitimately blocking an attack, tripping an opponent etc. And what about all the abuse handed out by players to each other and referees? Referees seem to feel helpless in the face of the tirades of expletive-laced whinging, obviously fearing that in applying the rules literally they would make matches a farce.
The answer to all of these problems and more is obvious: have a sin-bin, so that players can be appropriately punished; a bit like Goldilocks’ porridge, the punishment needs to be not too much, not too little, it needs to be just right. And removing players for five, ten or fifteen minutes would seem to do the trick.
The IFAB looked at sin-bins in 2009, but rejected the idea, without deigning to explain the reasons. The reason for the rejection might have had something to do with their quaint obsession with having a single body of rules that applies at levels of the game, with a view that sin-bins wouldn’t work on Hackney Marshes etc. That seems to be changing with the goal-line technology debate, so perhaps the IFAB will eventually get round to looking again at sin-bins.
Changing the throw-in:
Any Orcs reading this will be laughing at this point: typical whining southerner, complaining about Rory Delap’s missiles. In fact, I don’t criticise Delap or Pulis, they were just clever enough to spot a way of exploiting a weakness in the rules. But those missiles should not have a place in football. They are a device to get around what the game is actually about, i.e. controlling and using the ball without the use of hands. And they are based on an idea of creating chaos and feeding off the opportunities that come from that chaos. I don’t see that as being something that should be encouraged.
So how about changing the throw-in action, to make it harder to launch missiles? Instead of the thrower getting the leverage of taking a run-up and taking the ball all the way behind his head, make it done from a standing position and with the hands going no further back than the top of the thrower’s head. That way the thrower’s range will be much more limited, and it would encourage real football.
Reform indirect free-kicks:
Isn’t it annoying when a rapid attack is ended by a defender’s foul, the net result of which is that the offending defenders get the chance to regroup while the attacking team gather for the indirect free-kick? Why should the team that has had a player fouled be the one that loses the advantage?
I reckon football should follow hockey, which a few years ago allowed a player taking a free-hit to pass to himself. That means that player can immediately drive into space, since he doesn’t need to wait for his teammates to gather. Opponents that are within five metres can’t challenge or get in the way of the player that has taken the free-hit in that way, else they get sin-binned. This gives the team that has been fouled a real advantage; it creates chances to exploit space to greatest effect. It also means that there’s less complaining at referees, since the priority for the fouling team is to get into defensive position before the opponent drives into space.
Those are my suggestions. Do you have other ideas for improving the game, whether taken from other sports or not?
Written by 26may
Arsenal News 24/7
arsenalarsenal.net 
I don’t wish to appear too pedantic, but the the correct terminolgy is the laws of football not rules.
Thank you NG, I’ve changed it in the post.
26,
A good and thought provoking post, I totally agree with the idea of a sin bin as it would not only bring instantaneous punishment but also allow the offending player time to cool off a bit.
I can’t agree about the need to change the throw-in, the long throw is a legitimate tactic and if defences can’t cope with a “Delap” then tough luck.
I think that the introduction of the Rugby Union “ten yard rule” where any dissent is shown or delaying tactics are employed, at the award of a free kick, results in the ball being moved forward by that distance and if that places the ball in the penalty area, then a penalty kick is awarded.
maybe you didn’t wish to be, but pedantic you have been
I would like to see team captains and managers given the right to ask for a video review of decisions, say two or three per half with the video played on the stadium screens. If the original decision is overturned the ‘challenge’ is retained, if not it is lost.
I would also like to see referees enforcing current rules regarding who is allowed to speak to them. A yellow card for the team captain if he is mobbed by players should do it.
It’s OK to be pedantic, but you also need to be right.
This is what the governing body (the FA) say;
“Football Rules:
The Football Association is responsible for ensuring that the international Laws of the Game are applied on the field, and that the rules and regulations concerned with running football in England are observed by officials, clubs and players off the pitch as well as on it.
The Laws of the Game are determined by the International Football Association Board (IFAB), and The Rules and Regulations of The Football Association, determined by The FA Council, are aimed at establishing an efficient and fair regulatory structure. These rules and regulations cover matters ranging from the affiliation of clubs and associations, to misconduct, financial dealings and arbitration…”
Nice one 26. As far as the throw in is concerned, I dont remember his name, but their used to be a player who would take the ball in both hands run towards the line, then still holding the ball,place it on the floor whilst doing a forward flip launching the ball:as he returned to the upright position: over distances that would make Mr Pullis salivate and reduce Delaps efforts to the ordinary
Bogger,
Your sentence “The Football Association is responsible for ensuring that the international Laws of the Game are applied on the field” makes my point.
What about fouls?The std 3 match ban shd be increased to five or ten to have a deterrent effect.There are many thugs who are out to deliberately injure an opponent.
I believe the punishment sysytem shd be reviewed.
Andrew,
The problem with video replays is that even with multiple showings and from various camera angles the outcome is in many cases still not clear and really comes down to a judgement call by the official.
I wish they would review the situation where a player who has been fouled and received treatment from the physio has to leave the pitch. This gives the offending team an a numerical and unfair advantage. Remembering that a goalkeeper when injured doesn’t leave the pitch
I have felt for a while that something should be done about how unfair it is when an injured player is off the field getting treatment and the perpetrator is still allowed to be part of the play. It gives the advantage to the team that has committed the foul …………
Alf – snap 🙂
Alf,
Even more unfair, is that the injured player has to rejoin play from the half-way line and not before play has restarted.
Morning all, thought provoking post 26m, as you know I regularly rant about unfair aspect of the current rules/laws.
One answer to the fact that the team that is fouled is penalised by having their player removed from the pitch is to make the perpetrator leave the pitch as well and return at the same time – although the sin bin idea could be used to the same effect.
Agree with the sin bin and free kicks but I have no problem with throw ins the way they are only that the current rules are enforced too many foul throws are allowed.
One rule that would be a big change is a team yellow, many team use the rotational fouling tactic and it wins them games. If a referee notices rotational fouling he should issue a team yellow so that the next player to commit a card worthy foul gets a second yellow and is off or maybe just sin-binned.
Also better education on the rules regarding challenging the keeper as they are often given too much or no protection at all. The rule is if you challenge the keeper without going for the ball it is a foul. So many teams stick a man on the keeper at corners for the sole purpose of stopping him going for the ball this is a foul every time yet rarely punished. Anytime a keeper ends up on the ground a free out is given regardless of whether or not the challenger won the ball fairly.
Podge,
I don’t think it’s a foul to position yourself in front of another player to prevent him getting to the ball.
This must be the most hilarious picture I have ever seen 🙂
http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Guardian/Pix/pictures/2012/8/2/1343910254729/Bradley-Wiggins-relaxes-i-009.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2012/aug/02/bradley-wiggins-olympic-throne-britain?utm_source%3Dfeedburner%26utm_medium%3Dfeed%26utm_campaign%3DFeed%253A%2Btheguardian%252Fmedia%252Frss%2B(Media)&h=276&w=460&sz=38&tbnid=pxMJzD5Jwl1TyM:&tbnh=90&tbnw=150&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dbradley%2Bwiggins%2Bthrone%26tbm%3Disch%26tbo%3Du&zoom=1&q=bradley+wiggins+throne&usg=__IDWkAdCAsFDkNiF3piRZvgtJprk=&docid=aayv5I5WheDM_M&hl=en&sa=X&ei=k0weUPylFaie0QWx1YGoDA&ved=0CIABEPUBMAQ&dur=1260
Evonne,
Even funnier was the look on Brad’s face when Leslie Garrat went over the top singing the National Anthem after the Tour de France.
I wouldn’t change the Throw in rules.. i think the great thing about football is that small teams have a chance against big teams and the chance is direct ball and confusion.
Like the ideas on sin binng and even free kicks
My law changes
1./ no offside outside the box. (Or outside the act of scoring). This would stretch the play as defenders and attackers would be further apart.
2./ Posession of the football changes upon control rather than touch – i.e a player can’t shepard a ball out of play once they become in control of it (by blocking an opponent) they must play the ball
3./ A foul in the box does where the fouler does not stop a clear goal scoring chance is deemed a direct free kick not a penalty- i.e. the fouled player is running from the 6 yard line towards the corner flag and gets bowled over ala eboue on liverpool player two years ago in the 29th miute of injury time
4./ A serious foul that warrents a straight red card any where on the pitch results in a penalty. i.e. fouls on ramsay, eduardo, diaby etc
5./ Referees as professionals must present themselves or their report before a press conference after every game.
6./ Player who is penalised for diving is red carded twice. once for the deliberate act of misleading the referee and the second for attempting to get an opponent sent off or booked.
7./ Once a decision is made by a referee any prolonged objection (where the referee has to issue more than 1 warning) results in an immediate red card.
8./ When a player is substituted on medical grounds an independent medical officer can inform the 4th official that an extra substition may be permitted.
9./ Joey Barton, John Terry and Wayne Rooney must start with the presumption of guilt and prove their innocence in every incident.
26M,
Well done; a subject close to the heart of every football fan.
Adopting a sin bin could be fraught with problems, here are a few that come to mind.
1. How many players from a team can be off at the same time?
2. Is the time spent in the bin actual time or played time?
3. Who keeps track of the time? -This could be a big issue given the
amount of fouls in football – you may need a sin room.
4. Does a sin bin offence replace a yellow card?
5. If it does replace a yellow card do two offences equal a red card?
6. What constitutes a sin bin offence?
7. Is there still a straight red?
8. How could the rule possibly be applied in the amateur leagues?
9. Seems to me that there would be way too much administrative work involved..
The suggestion I like the most is the idea of the offending player only returning to the field of play at the same time as the offended player. However this is also problematic as players (teams) could fake injuries from tackles by top players just to get them off of the pitch, especially goalkeepers..
Small wonder the rules don’t change very often.
NG,
It used to be called deliberate obstruction which equalled a foul.
Hello everyone, just popping in briefly. Lots of good alternative suggestions. To D98’s presumed guilty list, I’d add Kevin Davies – I’ve long said he should start every game on a yellow, that’d sort him out.
On the sin bin, GN5 raises lots of good questions but I feel all of them can be resolved without difficulty, as they are in all the other sports that use them.
I’m obviously in a minority on the throw in idea. But I stick by it: rules should evolve as players and coaches find ways to exploit rules, and I just think the Delap Missile is a warped version of what was intended. More to the point, it’s anti football.
The idea of coaches being able to call for video replays is something Wenger suggested about ten years ago, and I think is a good one, possibly once per team per half. In effect, with goal-line technology, we’re heading in that direction.
On perpetrators suffering along with victims, I like that principle too, including after the game. So Eduardo or Ramsey lose a year of his career, and so do the lumbering fools who maimed them.
Ok, I’m off, have a good day and I’ll catch up later on.
Good read 26
I don’t really like the idea of sin bin as I feel the team with 10 men will just defend with all their available players behind the ball and waste even more time than they were probably doing before. I prefer a harsher punishment as I feel it would stamp out things like excessive complaining to the ref in a matter of weeks.
I went to Olympic park this week to watch the Hockey a sport I know nothing about; I can see what you mean about the possibility of a free kick being able to be taken to oneself in order to drive play on and keep the advantage. I didn’t realise this was a recent change in Hockey but I could immediately appreciate how it would have sped the whole game on to make it more exciting.
great post 26, good to have something different, and who better to talk about law?!
I like the idea of a free kick inside the box if you are running away from goal and the sin bin idea. Tougher penalties needed to be applied for players who cause serious injuries. How can someone ruin eduardo’s career yet only receive a 3 match ban?! Bloody ridiculous. He should have received a Barton like punishment.
On a side note it’ll be interesting to see if Sahin comes to Arsenal. Another website brought this to attention. Podolski and Sahin having an altercation a while back. Sahin complained about a foul, Podolski scored and put 3 fingers up to Sahin (Germany beat Turkey the week before 3-0), they butted heads, then Sahin celebrated in Podolski’s face after he hit the winner
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8TkyDFlMDOs&feature=player_embedded#!
Cheers, 26.
I quite like the sin bin idea but can’t see Septic Bladder ever going for it.
With regard to the throw-ins, what amazes me is how much smaller the Premier League allowed Stoke’s pitch to be, compared to the UEFA regs for minimum pitch size. They should definitely be brought in line. How often do you see Delap’s throws being effective away from home?
I don’t think it’s insurmountable, oz. 🙂
26May…..a very interesting post. I agree with you on the throw-in, but would also add the nearest player for the team who has the throw-in, must take the thrown-in. This will stop the time wasting of picking the ball up, then throwing it away for another team member to take the throw-in.
Well played may 26! This thought provocing article of yours has produced a lot of good idea’s, and some of them work for me, but we all know Blater would have to be long in the ground for any positive moves to take place, look how he had to be dragged kicking and screaming to goal line technology.
Sin Bins wouldn’t work. How long would a player be off? Would sin bins replace yellows or reds? If a foul was seen as a yellow but not harsh would that mean 5 mins sin bin as opposed to a yellow that wasn’t quite a red being longer? Who would set the times? Footballs current rules are hard enough to administer never mind adding all these complications to the refs job. Who would keep sin bin time? Nor would the injuried player being off at the same time as the one who fouled rule, it would immediatly be exploited. The best 3 playes of one team would be off at the same time as the worst 3 of another. It might benefit us if we had more flexible players and played even more one touch total football though! Eh TA 🙂 .
I suppose it might work if we returned to the 1 to 11 player numbers and if our No.7 is off being treated because he’s been fouled then their No. 7 also has to leave until treatment is finished. That would stop a lot of fouls in their tracks. Managers would be on the backs of any players who commited fouls which would be a novel change. The free kick rule about passing to one’s self would work as would the 10mts advancement rule which is already in the rule book but its not inforced. If ever a ref is surrounded, a team yellow should be put in play. Next yellow someone’s off that would stop the trying to unduly influence a ref behaviour within a single season. It would really kick start the captain only talking to the ref. Its terrible to say it but, the various football associations are such dinosaurs that change for the most part will only come with death!
The biggest change I’d like to see is instituting retrospective severe punishment for diving; a minimum of 3 to 5 matches for a first offense, and subsequently more severe punishment for future offenses. (Ideally, ten matches for Suarez and Young on their first offenses.)
The problem I see with sin bin is that you’re just opening up a can of worms for the likes of a Suarez or Joey Barton trying to have opponents binned with their antics. Without the severe diving/simulation penalties, matches would be reduced to having teams tactically working to have opponents sent off for x minutes at critical junctions.
I agree with BJ the diving issue needs harsh retrospective action. A panel should sit and review matches weekly, the dives should get a double punishment. 1st a red card 3 match ban for simulation, and 2nd an immediate charge of bringing the game into disrepute, which should incure a further suspended 3 match ban which would trigger a 6 match ban for a second offence, and a second disrepute charge. The panel would also look at over acting in all forms including a genuine foul which is followed up by rolling around like a puppy looking for a biscuit, and fainting being butted or struck and dropping to the ground like you’ve been shot. This trying to con the ref stuff badly needs stopping.
I think the biggest and most obvious change should be the use of video replays and a video judge.
Penalties should be reviewed. If a pen is given play has stopped anyway
The attacking player should always be given the benefit of doubt. Let the play go on and the ref can disallow a goal if he’s told by the judge it was offside.
The judge could spot dives.
I would like to see retroactive review of anything, not just diving. If a ref gets a red cardable offence wrong, only giving a yellow or nothing, why should it not be reviewed?
I’d like to ban refs playing for manu that would even things out a bit
26may – good post, thank you.
Throw-ins are for all teams to use; the fact that RoryD is exceptionally good at it, is neither here nor there. All teams make the best of what they have.
Sin bin is a very good idea, but in time it would probably be abused by diving non-even-Catalans.
i completely agree about the Indirect free kicks, that would be a justified change.
Also, Peaches and Alf’s idea about fouler leaving the pitch with the fouled is excellent.
I have little to add to these, other than permanently removing SAF from his position, relegating Spurs for no apparent reason and bankrupting Chelsea and Shitty. Now that would really improve the game tremendously 🙂
GM !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! now I am happy 🙂
GM,
What about penalties that aren’t given and play isn’t stopped? These are the ones that affect Arsenal the most.
No penalties for us at home last season.
9 penalties at home for manyoo.
Coincidence surely?
Thanks 26. There are a number of changes i would like.
The first is the use of towels. Stoke players should not be allowed to dry the ball with Pulis dirty towel. People are sick and tired of Pulis towel fetish. At the final whistle the cap wearing ferret races off to the showers with his dirty towel in hand so he can eroticly flick his players till he reaches climax. Thats why at interview you never see Pulis with his cap on, his climax involves his cap shooting from his head.
The second is some form of review system, like cricket were managers are allowed to challange refs decisons, say 3 per match. This rule could be flexible, so for example opposing managers at Old Trafford could be given extra reviews, say 6, to even out cheating refereeing or just to make Howard Webb cry.
Thirdly, to encourage attacking football, i would introduce a quarter line, like a subutteo pitch, were no team defending there goal can have more than 8 players within there quarter at any time. this would put a stop to blanket defence. Dont know what Pulis would do with his 3 spare players however? Maybe have them in the centre circle having a towel fight. That should make his cap explode. hahahaha.
Chas – I have dealt with unfair penalties by removing SAF from EPL, simples
A very fine post 26, and I agree with all three proposals: consider them implemented! 🙂
This will be my last comment for a while as we are off to la douce France in a few hours.
Here is hoping for a good start to the season and a very satisfactory outcome in all our transfer dealings. Au revoir mes amis and COYRRGunners!!! 🙂
Enjoy your hols TA xx
Chas
The video judge could tell the ref to stop play if he sees one
Have a nice holiday TA. Hi evonne 🙂
If you had a video judge you would need the ref and the judge to be biased to get bent decisions. Much more unlikely.
I thought you, GM, were in Germany going to the Cologne game?
I’m going on Saturday morning evonne. I’ve been busy lately
ok, as long as you are back in time for the kick off 🙂 good night xx
Evening all. That Mr Bolt is pretty quick isn’t he? Bit of a cartoon name for a sprinter, love it.
Quick question: why has Ashley Cole, who left us six years ago, started going on about Arsenal and the need for us to get over it? He seems to be the one unable to move on. Let it go, Ashley, frankly we just don’t care about you.
@GM@8:30
I’m with you on that one. Why is it that scandals are only ever uncovered in Italy? Do people really thing its a bridge to far to question whether or not brown envelopes stuffed full leave SAF desk and end up with officials? 🙂 I don’t believe in coinsidences that keep happening am I naive or is everybody way too trusting?
Oh 26 there you go trying to change the world….bloody lawyers 😉
Anyway here’s my tuppenceworth.
Agree with Rasp on the fouler being removed from the game with the injured, but very simply if a player has been fouled and needs treatment why should he leave the field of play? And moreover the rule has become a farce as the player receives treatment on pitch, strolls off and comes on almost immediately when play restarts….unless they get them off quickly for every injury with a stretcher.
Secondly to outlaw dissent is very simple, only the captain can question a decision, any other player approaching the ref after a decision has been made receives a straight red…don’t think it will be long before managers start telling their players not to do it.
Same goes for diving (but not awarded during game) video review panel with ex professionals adjudicating, any dive (whether gaining free kick, penalty or nothing) should receive a three match ban. Again I think it wouldn’t be long before managers put an end to their players actions.
Hi Exile
On the dissent thing, much as I’d like to think it would work to say only captains can talk to refs, watching the way players behave now makes me think the rule would be disregarded and referees would be in the position they are now: enforce the rules and issue yellow and red cards for dissent but risk accusations of farce as teams are reduced to tens and nines; or let it all slide.
I do think equipping refs with a sin-bin as an intermediate punishment would be the best answer to dealing with dissent. That and recruiting referees who have the balls to deal with players, even those playing for Man U, properly. Not an original suggestion, but perhaps we should just clone Pieluigi Colina, he’s about the only ref we all respect.
Mind you, on dissent, I should be a bit careful about my carping: I did get a red card myself for dissent once upon a time. Completely unjustified, of course.
Changes to the Laws of the game take so long to consider and apply because the IFAB and FIFA don’t want to complicate the original 18 Laws and are very reticent to change the appeal and simplicity of the game, or its tremendous foreign impact. They tolerate many interpretations to substitution, equipment and field requirements but prefer to avoid significant changes that could impact the officials authority both on and off the field.
That said, a timeout in lieu of a yellow card would make sense…the mechanics are simple enough to apply. The throw-in is not an issue as it is easy for any team to ¨train up¨ their players for long throws. The officials can allow quick free kicks, thus reinstating the advantage to the offended team so no need to alter that rule. Goal-line technology and video reviews definitely NEED to be permitted as soon as possible…incorrect and inaccurate referee decisions were NEVER intended as part of the game. The official is meant to referee in a firm but fair manner and if that requires the above technology, so be it.
The Law, IMHO, that needs the most serious review is the Law concerning offside. Any changes that speed up the game, add more excitement and challenge and provide more opportunities to attacking Football are welcome in my book…so improving the offside Law is a prime example of improving the Game.
Haha 26 you are probably correct about the farce.
And I shouldn’t say too much about diving as I was a master at getting players booked with an over egg of any impact. Being a goalie it was easy for the ref to see contact but they were normally far enough away that a tumble and yelp normally convinced them to pull out the yellow card. I was quite good at winding up centre forwards too and saw a few get red carded for two yellows on me.
Interesting comments, Domhuaille.
But I think you misunderstand the point about free-kicks. It’s not just about quick free-kicks, it’s about enabling players immediately to drive into space without waiting for their teammates to get into position and without defenders being able to get in the way. It’s been pretty revolutionary in hockey, and my point is it could have a very positive impact in football too. It is precisely the sort of rule change that would speed up the game, add excitement and enable attacking football.
Comparing football with other sports, many of which routinely evolve and adapt, we are badly served. Fans and competitors in pretty much every other sport, even cricket, can cope with change, so why not us? And the fact that half of the members of the committee that has custody of the laws of the game are from the UK shows that this isn’t something we can pin only on Blatter (much as I like slagging him off) or the other corrupt, tax-dodging, expense account toting footballcrats; it’s our own stuffed blazers that let us down.
26may1989…..I love your last 3 lines and the stuffed blazers reference is sooooooo true. I do agree that Football is light years behind other International sports when it comes to innovation and transparency. When Septic Bladderfull and Mike the Platini came out with their idiotic and brain-fart arguments against video and goal-line technology, I realized that there must be money involved in keeping Football in the dark ages..so that means corruption and foot-dragging from the authorities.
As a former national and professional referee, I do agree that the time wasting and obstruction of a free-kick by defenders is a scandal but is the option from hockey viable? It won’t happen anytime soon as changes take decades if not millenia with IFAB.
Excellent Post 26 and some good ideas.
I’m totally with you on throw-ins – the use of hands was never meant to be an important tactical tool in football. Feet together and arms starting directly above the head would be the answer.
Toweling the ball should also be banned.
I fear that sin bins, though they work in some sports, raise too many questions in footy and might prove to be a nightmare.
Apologies to Peaches and Alf, but making the fouled stay off the pitch for as long as the foulee(?) is a terrible idea. The rule about foulees having to leave the pitch was brougt in because so many players were feigning injury to slow the game down or deny advantage to their opponents. If “getting fouled” also meant they could remove an opposition player from the field they’ll all be doing it tactically. Terrible idea.
I’m not against in-game video review, but what I would really love to see is a proper retrospective review panel so that divers and cheats can be properly punished if the ref did not act firmly enough in the game (or was conned).
I like the Sahin-Podolski clip because it shows two very competitive players and we certainly need that.
If Sahin joins us I’m sure they’ll both have a laugh about it.
All of us who have played footy must have had moments like that, but it all gets forgotten pretty quickly.
Like TA (happy hols Total) I am on holiday now (Florida Keys). Will try to pop in every day but may not be around much.
I agree Rocky, surely a brew at the pub would squash and indifference’s. Good point on the fouling player going off (never thought of that), because if someone like messi fouled you players would sit off as long as they could receiving treatment so they keep their weapon off too.
Enjoy your holiday Rocky and TA
Have a great Holiday TA and Rocky.
Happy hols, boys.
Morning, Vic.
I enjoyed this which is about a player we haven’t signed yet!
How can you convince me
When everything I see
Just makes me feel you’re putting me down
And if it’s true this pathetic clown’ll
Keep hanging around
That’s if you don’t mind
I don’t mind
Bloody ell, just checked ticket prices for Stoke away …… £40 to visit that craphole!
Hopefully I’ll get a ticket for Sunderland home today….£25.50 much better.
Enjoy your holidays you lucky fellows who are disappearing in the worst bit of the transfer window.
Anyone else enjoying the Olympics as a break from all the crap that surrounds football? Who’d have thought people could be happy with second and third place finishes….some are happy with 5th or 8th.
Morning all
One more thing on yesterday’s post – referees should give interviews after games and explain some of the decisions they made. That would perhaps make them think harder before dishing out a card
4th is a trophy
Evonne that stopped after Graham Poll used to embarrass himself.
I still remember him not giving a penalty for a clear foul on Henry, his excuse was he wasn’t watching/looking at the part of the body that was fouled, Poll the first human with zoom focus eyes.
GiE – I absolutely love the Olympics. Best thing that happened in this country, especially in the times of doom and gloom, and bad weather. Fantastic stuff and so bloody emotional 🙂
I am going to go to the Paralympics. Those guys train even harder then the full bodied athletes. They need our support
GiE – good, let them embarrass themselves. If they cannot give good reasons, then least they could do was to apologise. On their knees preferably
Really Good pose there.
I was thinking of having wildcard substitutions in the game.
The Spain vs Italy finals was kind of a farce.
Have a rule, where once a team is done with all of its 3 substitutions, and one of their players is down injured, then his captain, can speak to the referee, who will then take permission from the opposition captain to allow the team a 4th sub, or a wildcard sub. Will allow most games to finish with 11 players. However, yes, there will be teams who will look to exploit this rule, and get a player to fake an injury, but surely if this is implemented, there will be ways to check that as well.
Rasp and peaches,
Could you find out from the wordpress forums where comments disappear to? They obviously go somewhere because if you were lucky enough to copy your comment before posting and then try to re-post, it gives you a ‘duplicate comment, looks like you’ve already said that’ reply.
You know a comment has disappeared when the refresh leaves you at the top of the blog rather than the bottom.
On second thoughts, you probably haven’t got time. Could you point me in the right direction?
GIE,
Any idea how much Stoke fans will be charged for a ticket at ours?
able bodied even 🙂
My guess is lower tier Cat C game Chas so £26 (non member price), £36.50 if it counts as Cat B. Can’t find full list at moment.
Evonne I was looking at Paralympic tickets too, £10 for Olympic Park entry and one of the major events. If it includes a one day travel card as Olympic Tickets have its a bargain.
GiE – our Ticket Fairy has looked them up and apparently there aren’t that many left, we’d better hurry up. See you there 🙂
Happy Birthday Brave Sir Robin.
Good idea evonne,
In Aussie Rules football there is an individual who is in charge of the umpires association. For contentious issues he goes over the incident and reports whether it was correct or not. It is a good exercise because it takes the pressure off of the umps, because you think of them more as human’s who make mistakes as opposed to individuals who never make an incorrect call (in their eyes).
Who is in the wrong here?
Fulham’s evaluation of dempsey at 10million
or
Teams offering 15million for RVP
Is he undervalued because of the statement, or is dempsey overpriced? Both the same age
Morning all……
….. New post ……
chas – we’ll get on it when we can, really busy at the moment.
I hate the fact that the rules keep on being messed with, I don’t like any of the above ideas for rule changes myself, obviously goal line technology makes sense though.
For me the sin bin is a horrible idea if, I believe it would be better to book players for proper bad tackles & not book them for poxy namby pamby tackles like they do these days, then you would not get the problem of second yellow cards as if they were sent off they would deserve it.
I have always thought it is ridiculous that keepers get sent off when bringing a player down in area, they are genuinly going for the ball.
I think if a goalkeeper or defender brings a player down in penalty box, a penalty & yellow card are severe enough punishments but if it is outside the box & a genuine goalscoring opportunity, then the defender or even keeper should be sent off as you can’t give a penalty.
@Chas@8:02 I’ve suffered that same bloody expirence several times! I didn’t save once having done a full page. So next time I saved and resent it once it didn’t show up and got the already sent crap. I mean where could our texts possibly go? Word press has a lot to answer for its so frustrating when you know you’ve sent in @ 10:00 almost the same stuff that others post at 11:30 and your post is still sat unsent in word presses duplication box. Its enough to cause the net version of road rage!