I also think that diving and pretending to be hit in the face should both be punished with retrospective automatic three-match bans.
I don't think it's a particularly pressing problem and therefore not worth the time, effort and money it'd take. Although yellows should be allowed to be upgraded to suspensions, they did it with Ben Thatcher's elbow on Mendes so I don't see why they can't in other cases of violent conduct or poor tackles.
Good points SF, it's such a difficult area. Without blowing my own trumpet tooooo hard (oo er missus) I do like my idea of 'penalty goals' as it punishes the offence there and then, but is not over draconian for matters such as handball and 'non-violent' fouls. I wonder if FIFA have considered this idea, it works i believe in rugby with 'penalty tries' though I don't follow that game, so am not saying it's strictly analogous.
FFS. Changes to offside AGAIN!?! They might aswell bring in a "rule" that the offside rule needs to be changed every 2 years. Its fine, its not confusing, just leave it alone.
Pretending to be hit in the face or over exaggerating minimal contact, definitely. Diving's a difficult one, players go down easily all the time and even when they dive they tend to make sure they get contact, meaning that even after replays it's debatable whether they did dive. After UEFA tried and failed to ban Eduardo(I think) I'd be surprised if we see that again anytime soon.
What I would like to see is far harsher penalties for violent conduct (i.e. intentionally trying to cause serious injury to another player) The penalties for that sort of behaviour, in Rugby, are harsh indeed. IMO, it's about time football adopted the same view.
The offside rule is fine and easy to understand. It's the paint-by-numbers pundits that seem to struggle with it. It was last changed to allow screaming 20 yard goals to stand. I love them, you love them, thay have to stay.
It clearly hit his chest, so I felt even more aggrieved! Superb performance by Berbatov that day, though. I'm with you on penalty goals. They should definitely be awarded for incidents like the Suarez handball against Ghana, too.
please log in to view this image No worries, Bales just asking if he wants to play pattacake pattacake.
It is mostly them, though. http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepag...Respect-lost-in-vicious-circle.html?print=yes And I think you'll find in the lower leagues they just chin the ref
Well said Inda, ex-professional footballers in this country tend to be a bit dim on the whole, it's amazing how little so many of them understand the game they've played all their life. I like the 'liberal interpretation' of the rule, and I hope it doesn't go back to its former sterile rigidity.
Hi GHod - a penalty is a better chance than running at the keeper with pace imo - who can come out and make it difficult. These chances are often missed as well, so awarding a penalty penalises foul play. Having said that, I like your idea of awarding a penalty goal for really blatant fouls. This will stop it happening almost immediately.
Talking of red card triple whammy - cast your minds back ( I know its hard for some of you) to the world cup. The biggest threat to Germany's chances in their group- Australia. Game 1 Tim Cahill their most dangerous player sent off for a nothing challenge- later admitted by the ref as a mistake- costs the Aussies lost 4-0. Next game 2 v Ghana Cahill out suspended- Harry Kewell back in the side to replace him gets sent off for handling the ball on the line( ball hits upper arm near shoulder- Rafa v Gooners same thing). Aussies again down to 10 outplay Ghana but can only draw effectively out of the cup. My point is FIFA condoned these two outrageously bad decisions how can they review the red card system objectively.
PL- FIFA run the game, so no-one else can really change key aspects such as the offside law and the triple whammy. It might just be possible for independent FAs to reduce the triple whammy to a double whammy, but to do it without the FIFA blessing would probably be difficult. Similarly only FIFA can bring in 'penalty goals', if such a solution is deemed the best. I suppose they could agree to accept an'outside view' prior to its investigations, but that would be dangerous and irresponsible in my view, therefore, rightly, FIFA has to have the final say. I've got massive respect for Beckenbauer, so am very happy he is leading the review.
Agree GH if it was someone on the select committee then you have to question it, but I think he will be objective and thorough. Hope that if he reports something they don't agree with that it is still considered.
Fair comments PL There so many conflicting interests at FIFA, (a bit like the EU or the UN), it's hard to get agreement on many of the matters discussed. I'd rather they left the ' new offside interpretation alone', than bodge it with a horrible compromise that hinders attacking play, but we'll see what transpires.
It is cumbersome, but I used to hate the old rule, Not only did it cancel out great goals needlessly, Waddle's wonder run and strike for us galls me to this day, but it seemed to encourage the 'offside trap'. Who can forget the mind numbing awfulness of Graham's Arsenal with their choreographed 'hands in the air' routine, led by Tony Adams.
please log in to view this image Blimey! How tall is that ref? Bale's 6'2" and even he looks small against him!
