I really like the idea of awarding more indirect free kicks instead of penalties for “lesser” fouls in the box. It’d have to be pretty tightly defined with plenty of examples. But it removes that massive gulf between the foul and the reward for that foul that paralyzes refs.
Think that football is in a bit of a pickle with how penalties are awarded territorially. I wonder if a Rugby Union approach of awarding free kicks and penalties solely on the severity of the foul would be interesting. (i.e. a last man foul outside the box would be a penalty, a innocuous handball inside the box would be a free kick that the offensive team could position anywhere outside the box)
Soccer, unlike a legal system, does not need to create fair outcomes. This is a product made for entertainment, and so I think it’s fine if punishments are disproportionate or kinda arbitrary (like giving out a red card or a penalty) so long as they make the game more fun. Not to say that the way the rules are now maximizes fun, but that should be the goal imo.
Is it true that uncalled fouls are that much of a disruption? I would argue that for one close enough to either net such that a free kick would lead to a shot or cross into the box, the ref calling a foul breaks up play far more than a foul. Players need to get up for their set piece routine, the wall is made, vanishing spray is used, etc vs an uncalled foul where play is live the whole time even if a move is interrupted.
Red cards are fun and we should do things to give them out more often.
Far more annoying than dangerous tackles to me personally are the Fernandinho style tactical fouls, because if you tactically foul instead of playing defence like a man you are a coward who’s afraid to compete. I think more resources need to be allocated to eliminating those fouls specifically.
I really enjoyed this article, and I've thought about it a lot since. One example where I think this type of approach should be used is how long goalkeepers hang onto the ball. I think the time should be increase (say 10 secs) but then rigorously enforced. It seems like you're being more lenient, but in practice keepers can hang onto it for like 30 secs under the current rule.
I really like the idea of awarding more indirect free kicks instead of penalties for “lesser” fouls in the box. It’d have to be pretty tightly defined with plenty of examples. But it removes that massive gulf between the foul and the reward for that foul that paralyzes refs.
Think that football is in a bit of a pickle with how penalties are awarded territorially. I wonder if a Rugby Union approach of awarding free kicks and penalties solely on the severity of the foul would be interesting. (i.e. a last man foul outside the box would be a penalty, a innocuous handball inside the box would be a free kick that the offensive team could position anywhere outside the box)
A few scattered thoughts:
Soccer, unlike a legal system, does not need to create fair outcomes. This is a product made for entertainment, and so I think it’s fine if punishments are disproportionate or kinda arbitrary (like giving out a red card or a penalty) so long as they make the game more fun. Not to say that the way the rules are now maximizes fun, but that should be the goal imo.
Is it true that uncalled fouls are that much of a disruption? I would argue that for one close enough to either net such that a free kick would lead to a shot or cross into the box, the ref calling a foul breaks up play far more than a foul. Players need to get up for their set piece routine, the wall is made, vanishing spray is used, etc vs an uncalled foul where play is live the whole time even if a move is interrupted.
Red cards are fun and we should do things to give them out more often.
Far more annoying than dangerous tackles to me personally are the Fernandinho style tactical fouls, because if you tactically foul instead of playing defence like a man you are a coward who’s afraid to compete. I think more resources need to be allocated to eliminating those fouls specifically.
I really enjoyed this article, and I've thought about it a lot since. One example where I think this type of approach should be used is how long goalkeepers hang onto the ball. I think the time should be increase (say 10 secs) but then rigorously enforced. It seems like you're being more lenient, but in practice keepers can hang onto it for like 30 secs under the current rule.