Biggest rule change/adjustment you'd like to see

If you had to qualify for the UCL through a playoff, you can't be put in pot 2.

Players being cup-tied needs to die.

Not a change to the laws of the game but I'd like to see the European transfer window close before start of seasons.

quote:

---

Not a change to the laws of the game but I'd like to see the European transfer window close before start of seasons.

---

This would kill clubs who base their budgets on qualification for the UCL or Europa.

I agree with all of Stewie's suggestions and TN Bhoy's ire with the cup-tie rules.

I loath the fact that there's an unwritten rule that anything goes inside the box. It only encourages more diving by creating a precedent where a foul inside the box can only be called when there's enough contact to bring a player to the ground. This precedent punishes players like Hazard and Messi for being small and nimble, because their centers of gravity are lower and its generally harder to bring them down. It allows oafs to hack at their legs and get away with it.

My suggestions

The handball rule is too vague within the laws of the game. Defining intent is essentially left to the referee and that often goes awry.

Add an extra sub for games in extra-time.

Make stoppage time a more defined structure and have the referee's watch available for public viewing. Tony Pullis' teams constantly waste time with throw-ins and delayed dead ball situations. They get rewarded because these delaying tactic aren't often accounted for by the referee in terms of added time. The book The Numbers Game talks about how Pullis' Stoke City would average less than 45 minutes of actual gameplay because of the Brittania Stadium's tiny field and said delays.

quote:

---

This would kill clubs who base their budgets on qualification for the UCL or Europa.

---

Since I'm too dense to figure this out on my own, how so?

Personally, I'd like to see them implement a rule where the player fouled when a penalty is awarded is the one that has to take the spot kick....just like being fouled in basketball.

- post game review by leagues to review dives with suspensions

- the mugging on set pieces in the box needs to stop. time for more pks to end it

Revisions for how head injuries are handled and video review on potentially game-changing decisions.

quote:

---

2. I wish there was something that wasn't a penalty. When a player is fouled in the corner of the box at the endline, it seems ridiculous to reward a penalty. It wasn't THAT great of a goal scoring opportunity. Maybe a free kick from the top of the 18 circle. Just something. As a former defender, I can't stand when players are trying to draw a foul instead of score goals, and it is really common in that area of the box right at the endline.

---

Yea - I have no solutions, but I wish there was a distinction between fouls in the box. Penalties are converted as such a high rate, it just seems logical that there is some type of distinction that could work.

quote:

---

Yellow cards for crowding the ref and asking for another player to be carded

---

I agree with this. Although, this may already be a rule that just isn't enforced. It should really be only the captains that can speak to the ref. All of this surrounding the refs and screaming at them is ridiculous. You don't see that in any other sport. I guess it happens a bit in baseball, but never where 3 or 4 players are in the face of the official.

I forgot which game it was this weekend, but a the end of regulation, there were about 5 minutes of stoppage time and the announcer mentioned it was because of the red card. That is ridiculous that it was so matter of fact. "Oh yeah, since a player got sent off and half the team yelled at the ref for 4 minutes, the game was delayed."

I wish at the beginning of a season, the refs would be given an initiative to start yellow carding every player that speaks (within reason) to him that is not the captain.