These changes have four main objectives:
- Feature a wider variety of playing styles
- More coverage for smaller teams/players
- Support the referees with technology, but not to burden them with any extra subjective decisions. Make some things simpler, give the attacking team more of the advantage
- Encourage new approaches to the game
It also accepts the World Cup is set apart from the rest of the football calendar; there should be no problem with it having some unique rules.
Increase WC to 64 teams:
16 groups of four
Six games per group = 96 games in the group stage. Six matches played most days (2 on opening day, 4 on last day of the group stage), no problem with matches played concurrently.
Knockout rounds of 32 – 16 – 8 – 4
Draw for knockout stages comes only after group stage is finished; top teams are seeded (1-8) by the number of goals scored in group stage, top seed gets to chose which runner up it prefers. Seed 1 plays 8 in the next round (2v7, 3v6, 4-5).
Why: more teams, more good & bad, more opportunity for small countries to progress. May make it easier for ‘top’ teams to qualify, therefore allowing more time/scope to develop new systems. Group games can be played in smaller venues. Seeded draw makes for more TV drama, and rewards goalscoring
Group stage points:
1pt for draw, 2pt for win by more than one goal, 3pt for win by 2+ goals
Why: creates more risk/reward
Knockout stage:
Teams reduced by one man if drawing after 90mins. Opposition managers to choose which outfield player to be removed; reduced by a further player after first period of extra time. Then penalties
Why: creates more space, throws up new tactical options
Technology:
To be used if the ball has crossed the line. Play to carry on as normal, but brought to a halt by 4th referee (off field, watching the video replay) if evidence says ball was in.
Offside: microchips in shoes (& ball) should be able to detect real-time position of players; player onside if his foot is behind the foot of the last man. Again, play until off-field ref says its off (should be <1 style="font-weight: bold;">Scrap the 6-yard box:
keeper takes kick from the line between his posts
Why: limits distance of these kicks
Free-kicks:
players can take from anywhere within 5 yards of where foul was committed – but no nearer the goal.
Why: may help create better shooting angle for attacking team
Throw-ins taken one handed:
Why: speeds it up, allows option of longer distance throws
Use a proper football
Official ball to in use, worldwide, for full season prior to event. Silly to have the event undermined like Jubilano 2010
Stumble It!
4 comments:
An ironic piece. Surely.
I'm thinking for the football world cup - get rid of all the early rounds.
Play scissors, paper, stone.
Or just knuckles.
Irony goes well with Football since you need a good sense of humor to practice both.
On a serious note if any rule has to be changed let's start by the suppression of the 1995 Bosman ruling.This ruling altered the spirit of the sport by providing more chances to the richest clubs like Chelsea or Man city.
Mimi, scissors, paper, stone ? that's way too complicated for football players they could be confused
Did we really need another article about cricket?
Gui: I did suggest knuckles as an alternative!
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