If you could change 1 rule in football

[Dirk Gently]

Apart from the financial ones already discussed, I'd like to bring back the "10 yards forward for dissent" that they experimented with a few years ago.

Despite the press getting hold of it being abandoned because "it wasn't understood in countries where they don't play rugby", that's actually a load of bollox. It was actually discontinued because teams were arguing deliberately to get free kicks moved too close to the goal - this happened a lot when Beckham was at Man Utd. Too close to the goal and there's no space to get the ball up over the wall then down under the bar.

When experimented it was a mandatory move forward - all it would take would be to give the attacking team the option to move and then it'd work properly.

Oh, and on a similar theme how about a mandatory yellow card for anyone arguing with an official?

[papereyes]

Rather than changing the rules of a given competition, I'd enforce the dissent rules more toughly.

*reinstate the 10 yards from a freekick rule, pushing forward 10 as a penalty

* only the captain of the side can address the ref, all other players have to wait until addressed or go through the captain

*yellow for any dissent

Enforce it strictly, competently and consistently.

I also have some sympathy for finerain's suggestion but do believe that while the rule is in place, you'd have to be a Grade 1 Retard to get booked for it.

[Tony Le Mesmer]

Oh, and on a similar theme how about a mandatory yellow card for anyone arguing with an official?

Thats just about the only good thing football can take from Rugby.

But id prefer automatic suspensions and self imposed club fines as opposed to Yellows.

[Focher]

Id look into the total reluctance of camera men to pan in on strippers when they invade the pitch (female).

This is what the folk of England want to see, not a close up of some minor celeb in the crowd laughing, whilst mouthing 'look at the fcking tits on that' to whoever they are sat next to.

[Tony Le Mesmer]

Id look into the total reluctance of camera men to pan in on strippers when they invade the pitch (female).

This is what the folk of England want to see, not a close up of some minor celeb in the crowd laughing, whilst mouthing 'look at the fcking tits on that' to whoever they are sat next to.

Agreed, but this should be extended to Male 'Steakers' who Semi bottle it, and end up trying to make the Centre Spot with trousers and pants round the ankles.

[1960]

Apart from the financial ones already discussed, I'd like to bring back the "10 yards forward for dissent" that they experimented with a few years ago.

Despite the press getting hold of it being abandoned because "it wasn't understood in countries where they don't play rugby", that's actually a load of bollox. It was actually discontinued because teams were arguing deliberately to get free kicks moved too close to the goal - this happened a lot when Beckham was at Man Utd. Too close to the goal and there's no space to get the ball up over the wall then down under the bar.

When experimented it was a mandatory move forward - all it would take would be to give the attacking team the option to move and then it'd work properly.

In rugby you can take any kick from however far back you want as long as it is in line with the offence or try. Hence a try in the very corner - it would be very difficult to convert it from there, so the kicker retreats abot 10 yards or so to widen the angle. Football should be the same - the ref paces out the 10 yards, then the attacking team can move the ball back a bit to solve the up and down problem.

[Royal With Cheese]

Ban women from commentating, commenting on and watching football.

[Row Z Royal]

0.1 goals for every corner.

[Royal Rother]

0.01 goals for every pass.

[TheMaraudingDog]

No overhead height

[TBM]

No overhead height

2 touch

[6ft Kerplunk]

Commentators and pundits should have to read, understand and remember the rules before being allowed to broadcast. Exams should be taken before the start of every season and the results published. it would put an end to the utter bollocks that they spout about understanding the game better than refs just because they played it 20+ years ago.

[Wax Jacket]

Commentators and pundits should have to read, understand and remember the rules before being allowed to broadcast. Exams should be taken before the start of every season and the results published. it would put an end to the utter bollocks that they spout about understanding the game better than refs just because they played it 20+ years ago.

...and visit the pronunciation department every once in a while

mine would be that a keeper can't come out of the area, kick it back into the area, and pick it up. keepers- the only people allowed to still play the backpass.

[Focher]

have a 10 minute period in each game, at the referee's discretion, when its 'rush goalie'

[Barry the bird boggler]

If the scores are level then the mascots for each team should have to fight each other and the winner gets the extra 2 points for his team

[TheMaraudingDog]

One minute silence before all games at Anfield.

Oh.

[TBM]

have a 10 minute period in each game, at the referee's discretion, when its 'rush goalie'

Dont you mean "spotlight goalie"?

[philM]

Getting booked for celebrating...laughable rule. Completely anti-football.

Agree. This rule is all about ensuring the shirt sponsors name gets prime viewing position after a goal is scored. FIFA introduced the rule after many complaints from sponsors, who are of course specifically wanting those iconic onscreen close-ups of the goal scorer/logo combo.

In many ways it is the most "corrupted" rule we have, in that is has nothing whatsoever to do with the match.

[Ian Royal]

Surely that would be for each sponsor to complain to the club involved and get its players to stop doing it, rather than getting a new law made FFS!

[philM]

Surely that would be for each sponsor to complain to the club involved and get its players to stop doing it, rather than getting a new law made FFS!

This is how they spun it back then... http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/3083490.stm

It was the big global brand sponsors who forced FIFA to act globally. The celebration goal scorer's shirt-front is the money shot for them. They get their logo replayed, often in slo-mo. Over and over. Accompanied by wild cheering.