5 rule changes that have revolutionised modern football

4. The last round of World Cup group stage games being played at the same time

During the 1982 World Cup’s group stages, Algeria surprised many by beating Chile and title favourites West Germany in two of their three matches in what was their first participation in the competition, to stay in contention for qualification to the next round.

However, since the last games of each group during the group stages of a World Cup competition were not played simultaneously, West Germany and Austria knew before they faced each other that a 1-0 or a 2-0 win for the Germans would be enough to take both teams through.

Both teams already knew what was to be done. After West Germany took a 1-0 lead in 10 minutes, neither team tried to score another goal, instead running down time to make sure that both countries would go safely through to the next round at Algeria’s expense.

The media and fans cried foul, and though Germany and Austria escaped without any punishment, FIFA decided to ensure that the last matches of each group would be played simultaneously during a tournament so that the teams playing earlier would not suffer the same fate Algeria did.

The whole event came to be known as ‘The Disgrace of Gijon’.