I think that football players should be given red cards for any deliberate rulebreaking (including diving). There'd be 3 red cards a match for a little while but then diving would stop. I also think sporting bodies should be allowed to administer these red cards after the match if a replay shows something the ref missed.

I also think that every single time a player argues with the refferee on a free kick decision they should move the ball 5 yards towards the offending teams goal, like in rugby. Yet again, at first you'd have a few free kicks turning into penalties but i don't think it'd be too long before it was wiped out.

Am i mad or does this sound like sense to you?

I think that football players should be given red cards for any deliberate rulebreaking (including diving). There'd be 3 red cards a match for a little while but then diving would stop. I also think sporting bodies should be allowed to administer these red cards after the match if a replay shows something the ref missed.

I also think that every single time a player argues with the refferee on a free kick decision they should move the ball 5 yards towards the offending teams goal, like in rugby. Yet again, at first you'd have a few free kicks turning into penalties but i don't think it'd be too long before it was wiped out.

Am i mad or does this sound like sense to you?

No, you're mad.

Seriously, the "move the free kick forward" idea was introduced in the league a few years back and was subsequently dropped, so it clearly didn't work.
And a yellow card punishment for diving is already in force; the problem is that all too often the ref fails to enforce it, though as he can't see slow motion replays which the "experts" can, it's all to easy for him to be conned.

i never heard about that sounds cool, why did the "move the free kick forward" idea fail?

and something's got to be done about diving, surely.

i never heard about that sounds cool, why did the "move the free kick forward" idea fail?


Three were times when a defending side would deliberately get the free kick moved forward, so that the attackers had less room in which to work. (This is because it could not be moved any further forward than the 18-yard-line, I believe - so converting free-kicks into penalties would put a stop to that.)

A simpler solution would be that employed in American sports - you argue with the referee, you're sent off the field, immediately, no excuses, no warnings, clear off.

i never heard about that sounds cool, why did the "move the free kick forward" idea fail?

and something's got to be done about diving, surely.

According to this article, the "ten yard" rule was trialled in season 2000/1, indeed I'm sure I remember seeing games where it happened, albeit very rarely. I've googled various phrases but can't find out why the trial wasn't successful.

I'd introduce the following:-

1 - Team captain only allowed to question a referee's decision;

2 - Foul mouthing a referee is an instant yellow. Continued foul mouthing = sending off;

3 - Anyone touching the referee or linesmen = red card

(I know, I know. You're saying how on earth would the likes of Rooney ever complete a game. The likes of Rooney wouldn't even get through the first ten minutes!)

4 - All decisions to be 'subject to clarification'. The referee should review his performance after the game and be allowed to rescind decisions or take action for those he missed or got wrong. He should be accountable for these decisions to a media gathering 24 hours after the game has ended.

5 - Referees should recommend to managers that a player who hasn't cooled down and faces a further yellow or red be given the option of being substituted (providing maximum numbers of substitutions hasn't been made).

The game needs cleaning up and although some of my ideas may come across as quite Draconian, I think they should be given a year's trial.

I'd introduce the following:-

1 - Team captain only allowed to question a referee's decision;



In League 2 last season, Barnet actually tried this and received considerable praise for the conduct of their team. Unfortunately they also finished towards the bottom of the table, which rather suggests that the more you complain, the more decisions you're likely to get in your favour.

i never heard about that sounds cool, why did the "move the free kick forward" idea fail?

In football theres also much less of an emphasis on where the ball is as tactically not as much changes. If a free kick's on the half way or 10 yards in front of there's not really that much difference, the only time it's really relevant is if it puts the ball into shooting distance. In rugby on the other hand field position and momentum are everything and if you're sent back 10 then another 10 yards in quick succession you've a lot of organising defensively and are on the back foot automatically.

And as Heyesey says they do it much better in American sports, theres much more respect shown and they leave it to the coaches to argue it out.

Three were times when a defending side would deliberately get the free kick moved forward, so that the attackers had less room in which to work. (This is because it could not be moved any further forward than the 18-yard-line, I believe - so converting free-kicks into penalties would put a stop to that.)

A simpler solution would be that employed in American sports - you argue with the referee, you're sent off the field, immediately, no excuses, no warnings, clear off.

Yeah that would work too i think, and definately turn free kicks into penalties without a doubt, it would only discourage it more.

In football theres also much less of an emphasis on where the ball is as tactically not as much changes. If a free kick's on the half way or 10 yards in front of there's not really that much difference, the only time it's really relevant is if it puts the ball into shooting distance. In rugby on the other hand field position and momentum are everything and if you're sent back 10 then another 10 yards in quick succession you've a lot of organising defensively and are on the back foot automatically.

And as Heyesey says they do it much better in American sports, theres much more respect shown and they leave it to the coaches to argue it out.

That's true i spose, but players complain less about free kicks in those situations anyway. It's the decisions that lead to free kicks in promising positions that are most fiercely contended.