Football laws you would change

[blue lewj]

Two off the top of my head for starters would be the players coming together ruling and shepherding the ball out for a goal kick.

There was one instance yesterday where the Chelsea defender (believe it was James) basically body checked the attacking player while running in a different direction to where the ball was. It is obstructing a player from running and physically stopping them from getting to it. If you stop them with an arm, a shirt pull or a leg it is a penalty but changing your running arc and body checking them is within the rules? Not for me and it should be changed.

Another rule that I would change would be shepherding the ball out for a goal kick. Nowhere else on the pitch can you back in to a player sometimes yards from the ball, sometimes forcibly using your arms to push a player in a direction away from the ball but apparently it seems allowed when the ball is going close to going out for a goal kick. Should be a free kick every time for me.

In short I think an offence should be one regardless of where it happens on the field and there is no consistency with this kind of thing.

[OurManFlint II]

Penalty for a potential goal scoring opportunity thwarted by foul means anywhere on the pitch. As examples, when clean through and fouled outside the box, or a quick counter attack where the attacking side is overloading the defending team.

Its madness that any foul in the goalkeeping area is a penalty regardless of goal scoring opportunity but a clear goal scoring opportunities elsewhere is just a free kick.

[Gofer Blue]

Penalty for a potential goal scoring opportunity thwarted by foul means anywhere on the pitch. As examples, when clean through and fouled outside the box, or a quick counter attack where the attacking side is overloading the defending team.

Its madness that any foul in the goalkeeping area is a penalty regardless of goal scoring opportunity but a clear goal scoring opportunities elsewhere is just a free kick.

Sin bin for 15 minutes.

[blue lewj]

Penalty for a potential goal scoring opportunity thwarted by foul means anywhere on the pitch. As examples, when clean through and fouled outside the box, or a quick counter attack where the attacking side is overloading the defending team.

Its madness that any foul in the goalkeeping area is a penalty regardless of goal scoring opportunity but a clear goal scoring opportunities elsewhere is just a free kick.

That is a tricky one. Understand the thinking behind it though.

Another for me is a penalty and a red card for a hand stopping the ball going into the net. Giving a penalty and a red card for me doesn't quite deal with it correctly. Maybe a yellow and give the goal. Surely we could have a ball tracking system like cricket given the technology in the game at the top level? A penalty for this is usually scored and the team being reduced to ten men is a double punishment surely?

[Seabird]

The "play on - advantage" law. Too many times a ref will let play go on because the side that has been fouled have retained possession, as us Cardiff fans know possession isn't always an advantage. And if the play goes on for some time after the offence has been committed the ref doesn't get around to punishing the offender.

I'm old enough to remember the 'obstruction law' which, if I remember correctly was "obstructing" your access to the ball and was making no attempt to play the ball himself he was penalised with an 'indirect' free-kick and you were within the laws to push him out of the way. Which is much the same point that LB was making.

[NYCBlue]

Harsher penalties for diving and cheating. Blatant dive by Jacob Murphy on Saturday which could have led to a penalty and obviously a goal. He didn't even get a yellow. For me, it should be a straight red. There should also be more scrutiny of players dragging a leg out and basically tripping themselves up.

[Optimistic Nick]

Harsher penalties for diving and cheating. Blatant dive by Jacob Murphy on Saturday which could have led to a penalty and obviously a goal. He didn't even get a yellow. For me, it should be a straight red. There should also be more scrutiny of players dragging a leg out and basically tripping themselves up.

Free hit on a diving player. Will sort it immediately.

[Citizen's Nephew]

Immediate yellow card for any player called Grealish who falls over.

[blue lewj]

Harsher penalties for diving and cheating. Blatant dive by Jacob Murphy on Saturday which could have led to a penalty and obviously a goal. He didn't even get a yellow. For me, it should be a straight red. There should also be more scrutiny of players dragging a leg out and basically tripping themselves up.

I've noticed referees have seemingly lost their bottle on this recently. Is it a directive from above?

Times when players hit the grass with force and quite theatrically where the ref tells the player to get up or is sure it isn't a penalty but very rarely a yellow card is given lately.

As is the case with foul play or cheating it will very rarely changed until the crackdown on it changes to force the change.

I think in this case a referee using the rugby lead and putting a player on report would see some issue. Warning for diving followed by missing games for it might see a change.
Sadly I think it is part of the game now and going nowhere. It doesn't make it right but some commentators/pundits applaud how clever some players are while basically cheating.

[19bluebirds27]

When the ball goes for a goal kick on the left side of the goal - it should be taken from that same side and not the other.

[blue lewj]

When the ball goes for a goal kick on the left side of the goal - it should be taken from that same side and not the other.

Not sure I agree but it does give ample opportunity for a bit of time wasting.

[19bluebirds27]

This is what I was getting at.

[19bluebirds27]

Also throw ins taken from the spot the ball went out and not 10/15 yards further up the field.
The shaving foam needs to be used here too.

[blue lewj]

This is what I was getting at.

I disagree with the goal kick side being dictated in that the side you take the goal kick would then be dictated by the other team putting the ball out.

I think if it is your goal kick then you should be able to choose where you take it from. Just having a set time to take it should sort it out and spotting the ball only once.

We've all seen the goalkeeper antics but again we don't mind them if it is us doing it with a minute left but hate it if it is the opposition doing it.

[lardy]

I disagree with the goal kick side being dictated in that the side you take the goal kick would then be dictated by the other team putting the ball out.

I think if it is your goal kick then you should be able to choose where you take it from. Just having a set time to take it should sort it out and spotting the ball only once.

We've all seen the goalkeeper antics but again we don't mind them if it is us doing it with a minute left but hate it if it is the opposition doing it.

I think the take a goal kick from either side rule was brought in to reduce time wasting. A goalie could 'accidentally' put it on the wrong side, then the ref has to tell him, he pretends not to understand, the ref goes over, and so on.

Like you say, a set time removes all the arguments.

[Grievous Angel]

Only headed goals allowed.

[blue lewj]

Only headed goals allowed.

Did somebody say champions?

And I'm talking Champions League here.

[bobh]

No dodgy decisions against Cardiff.

[Eric the Half a Bee]

Removal of goal-line technology. Instead, both teams argue between themselves as to whether the ball crossed the line.

[Citizen's Nephew]

Removal of goal-line technology. Instead, both teams argue between themselves as to whether the ball crossed the line.

This is my favorite so far but would like to add that fisticuffs are allowed too.

[Hilts]

Id make it illegal for a player to take the ball to the corner flag and just shield it making no attempt to play it just wasting time.

[blue matt]

Id make it illegal for a player to take the ball to the corner flag and just shield it making no attempt to play it just wasting time.

surely that's just game management, a art in itself

[jon1959]

Id make it illegal for a player to take the ball to the corner flag and just shield it making no attempt to play it just wasting time.

I was watching The Big Match (ITV4 I think) earlier this evening.

It was Leeds v Sheffield Utd from 1974.

Leeds won 5 - 1 with some skill, play acting, thuggery and inept refereeing.

But at one point in the second half when Leeds were keeping the ball in their own half for what seemed like about 40 passes, the referee decided enough was enough and booked Terry Yorath for unsportsmanlike behaviour (or at least that's what the commentator assumed) and gave Sheffield Utd a free kick. They scored their one goal from that free kick.

The game has changed!

[RonnieBird]

Oh, and you can’t even punch an opponent AFTER the whistle as you leave the pitch OR in the dressing room!

Bunch of ponces.

[RonnieBird]

And what about this thing where you can’t drive down the docks for a late drink in the Big Wheel if your just a BIT pissed ?

( Although I’m thinking that might not just be a football rule - any smart arsed overpaid lawyers clarify that one ?)