FIFA’s technical director, Marco van Basten, earlier this week revealed a string of radical changes he has planned that could alter the way football will be played in future. The Sunday Standard takes a look at his suggestions...
Sin Bins for Yellow Cards
Several have talked about how the yellow card doesn’t immediately punish a player. The Dutch wants to change that by sending the player off the field for 10 minutes (a concept used in field hockey).
“Yellow card against an opposing player doesn’t currently give the attacking team much. One idea is to replace the yellow card with a time penalty of five or 10 minutes. That would frighten teams.”
More Substitutions
Managers have to be careful with decisions because of the limited changes (three). Van Basten hopes to change that. “It is hard to play 10 against 11, let alone with eight or nine.
We’re also thinking about allowing more substitutions. Last month I met (Man City coach) Pep Guardiola, who asked, ‘Why aren’t six substitutions possible?”
Abolishing Offside
Field hockey banned them and the sport is better off for it. Van Basten used that example when talking about implementing this change. “Football currently resembles handball where nine players, plus the goalkeeper, pack the penalty area and is like a wall.
They abolished the off-side rule in field hockey and there were no problems.”