LONDON: Penalty goals, dribbling from free kicks and corners, and points deductions for mobbing the referee are among a crop of radical proposals for discussion by football’s law-making body, the International Football Association Board (Ifab).
It’s technical director David Elleray, the former English referee, is behind a strategy document which he describes as ‘a quiet revolution’.
Under the proposals players would be allowed to play free kicks and corners to themselves instead of passing; the ball
need not be stationary for a free kick; a penalty would be awarded for a goalkeeper handling a backpass; and a penalty goal could be given if an outfield player handles on or close to the goal-line.
Possible changes to time keeping include the whistle only being blown for halftime and fulltime when the ball goes out of play; and using 60 minutes of actual playing time rather than 90 overall minutes as at present.
Teams could also be docked points for surrounding a referee.
Minor amendments include a goal kick not having to leave the penalty area before a defender touches it and a goal kick being awarded if a player misses a penalty kick, instead of any follow up being allowed.
The strategy document, called Play Fair, will be discussed over the next few months, before the 2018 Ifab annual general meeting, in March. — Reuters