6 changes that could revolutionize and improve football

Football, being one of the most popular games in the world, ironically has some of the biggest flaws in its rules, refereeing techniques, decision making, and organisation, not to mention the fact that it is technologically miles behind the 21st century. Here are six changes that could make the beautiful game even more beautiful and competitive:

1. Go easy on the off-side rule, referees are humans too!!

The pace of the game these days is incredible and amazingly entertaining to the eyes of the fans, but a nightmare for the players and more so the referees. The direction of play can change in a flash, and the ability of players to switch play is getting better by the day. This makes it very difficult for a referee to call an off-side, and as a result many a decision has gone wrong, and the results of several games have been affected. Also, the the flow of the game is disturbed, and unnecessary stoppages in play are caused, ruining the intensity created by some beautiful build-up play.

A little change can be made to the rule, allowing an attacking player to be ruled onside if any part of his body is level with the second-to-last defender, and only be pulled up for off-side if every part of his body is away from the defender. This little change can go a long way in retaining the flow of the game and making it more entertaining. The referees are after all humans, and possess no special ability to watch the game in slow motion. A decision to introduce technology in this matter wouldn’t be too bad either.

2. Someone please do something about the diving. This is football not a diving contest!

There are some players on the football pitch that could make professional divers proud! There is no room for simulation and fake play in football. There have been some instances where players have ridiculously gone crashing to the ground, imagining someone shooting them with a sniper! A direct red card for diving would certainly make a difference. If the referees are unable to spot diving, intervention from the governing bodies will definitely reduce the diving and help salvage the beautiful game.

3. Sin-Bin/Penalty Box

A technique which is effectively used in rugby and ice hockey can be borrowed by football, where a player has to leave the pitch to serve a pre-determined amount of time off the pitch as punishment for an offence not severe enough to merit outright expulsion from the contest, but severe enough to receive a yellow card. If this method is put in place, players will think twice before committing any kind of infractions, and will definitely eliminate intentional fouls to receive a yellow card. Also, games bogged down by overly physical play and constant fouling would certainly open up if one side is down to 10 men, even if it is for a short period of time.

4. Instant replay reviews, let’s bring in some sort of justice to the game!

Almost every professional sport has embraced technology, and are willing to improvise to make it easier for the officials and improve the sport, except for the most popular sport in the world. Why FIFA is unwilling to adopt technology is beyond anyone’s comprehension. Many games, and important ones at that, like the World Cup qualifiers, the World Cup quarters and the finals of the African Cup of Nations have all been affected by the wrong decisions by the on-field officials. There is virtually no measure in place at the moment to provide justice to players who truly deserve it. Instant hawk-eye technology and radio transmission will make football so much better.

5. Goal-line technology, when will it ever come in place??

Countless goals have been disallowed and countless others have been given wrongly when it comes to close goal-line calls. As stated earlier, the linesmen and referees DO NOT have special ability to watch the game in slow motion and could certainly benefit from this technology. Its working is very simple and extremely effective. The only solace is that FIFA has started working on this and has entered the testing stage, and it could be put into effect in the 2014 World Cup. One more reason to look forward to the spectacle!

6. Penalties. Why is it so difficult to figure out an alternative??

Penalty shootouts are widely criticized by pundits, players, managers and fans. It is not the best way to end a showcase contest and does not do justice to the players’ abilities. There can be two alternatives to this controversial method of deciding the winner.

Attacker Defender Goalkeeper (ADG)

This a new alternative to the penalty kick shootout. ADG features a series of ten contests in which an attacker has thirty seconds to score a goal against a defender and a goalkeeper. At the completion of the ten contests, the team with the most goals is the winner.

Penalty shootouts before extra time

This would mean conducting a regular penalty shootout before the extra time, and having the extra time later. The winning team in the shootout will have an obvious advantage going into extra time, and if it’s still all square in terms of goals scored in open play, the team that won the penalty shootout would go on to win the match. This will ensure that both teams are not playing to avoid losing and not go for goal. At least one team in extra time will have to go for goal and attack for the want to win.