Euro 2016 kicks off later tonight amidst excitement and frenzy in the best year for football fans. Fans who are following Copa America 2016, after a tiring club season and yet awaiting the extravaganza at Paris.
Euro 2016 also brings about a fresh set of rules, going to be tested and judged during the month-long event. Are the new rules here to stay? Will they impact football forever? Here’s a look at the rules and its impact to the game.
1. No more “triple punishments” — Till date if a player is fouled by opposition defenders and denied a goal scoring opportunity, then the team receives triple blow – a red card, a penalty and subsequent suspension! With new rules, any genuine attempt to play the ball by “last line of defence” (defenders or goalies), which bring down opponents, will no longer result in automatic red card, penalty and player suspension. Yellow cards with no suspensions will be used instead unless the foul was particularly brutal or there was a handball.
VERDICT: This modification on the outset promotes attacking football. It means a team can afford to leave minimal defenders behind and attack rest of the game. In case of a counter attack, they can still stop without getting red carded. Thumbs Up.
VERDICT: This rule is good as long as it’s not used by players to time waste and protect score lines. Interestingly, it’s to be used in hot playing conditions – which make it very subjective. A Scandinavian player may feel hot at 25 degree Celsius, while for a Moroccan that would be ideal playing temperature. This rule may be misused more than anticipated.
VERDICT: Am on the fence for this. All variations in penalty kicks, during open play, must be encouraged to make the game even more exciting. However in shootouts, i agree, faking can be curbed.
VERDICT: Am wondering which player indulges in bad behaviour before the match starts? Which fool would do this? I hope it’s a rule used for correct reasons and not for wrong reasons – like a referee can decide to get into an argument with Cristiano Ronaldo, during warm up, before an El Clasico, and then red card him. Let’s wait and watch on this, because this is bound to generate controversy anytime it’s invoked.
5. Players don’t have to leave the pitch to get treatment — If a player is fouled enough for the offender to warrant a card, the injured player can receive a brief spell of treatment on the pitch. Previously they would have to be stretcher-ed off and that would mean the team on receiving end of foul plays next few minutes with a man less. it was unfair.
VERDICT: The intention behind this rule would be to avoid time wastage – in deciding if the injured player needs to be sent out, calling for stretcher, getting stretcher etc. So this rule should benefit the game to resume fast when the injury isn’t major. Thumbs up.
VERDICT: No team was every going to pass the ball forward to start an attack in the 5th second. So this rule is fine; not that the original rule was over turning the earth! So wondering why this rule was even discussed!
Wow Luis Suarez name came up twice during this write up! Were the new rules made keeping Suarez’s allround abilities in mind? Ha ha!
Have a great Euro 2016!
Credits: Parts of this article has been sourced from the following link
One thought on “New Football Rules (w.e.f Euro 2016) and their impact”