International Football Association Board (IFAB), whose job is “to discuss and decide upon proposed alterations to the Laws of the Game”, have produced a strategy document that contains several proposals for radical changes to the beautiful game.
One of the biggest proposals is eliminating the rule that says the ball must leave the penalty box during goal kicks. This means defenders can enter the box to receive a pass from the goalkeeper whilst the opposing attackers stay out.
IFAB are keen on increasing the amount of playing time, and the belief that allowing passes within the penalty box from a goal kick would improve passing football, and eliminate break-ups in play that result from long goal kicks.
David Elleray, IFAB’s technical director, told the Times: “It is a radical document. You could say that it is a quiet revolution aimed at getting football even better.
“My starting point was to look at the laws and say ‘what are they for?’, and if there is no particular reason then would changing them make the game better.”
The aforementioned change is only one of several proposals that could bring drastic alterations to the game. Players could be able to dribble the ball from a free-kick or corner kick – meaning a player doesn’t only have to pass the ball to a team-mate or shoot. Other proposals include taking free kicks while the ball is moving and goalkeepers conceding penalties for handling a back pass.
Other more radical changes have been suggested. One is awarding a penalty goal for handling the ball on the goal-line, meaning Ghana would have eliminated Uruguay in the World Cup quarter-final had this rule been in place.
Deducting points from teams for mobbing referees, calling half-time or full-time only when the ball is out of play, and decreasing the duration of games from 90 minutes to 60 are other proposals.
Another possible change up for discussion could see the end of penalties as we know it. If this suggestion is accepted, missing a spot-kick during normal time would mean the game will be stopped and restarted with a goal kick. Other players would not be able to follow up the kicker, nor can the penalty taker have a second attempt if his first attempt is saved or rebounds of the bar.
IFAB also look to promote the use of VAR on a larger scale, pointing to its successful trial in the under-20 World Cup as a reason to increase the use of technology for officiating matches.
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