I proposed this solution to FIFA and it was rejected. Make penalties a tie-breaker rather than a game decider! Shoot them after full time and before extra time. The team that wins owns the tie breaker. Then play extra time! If the other team wins extra time, they win the game.\nIsn't this better? ET would be the best part of the game! And no more penalty drama. True football. The ET can be reduced to one period for 20 mins to make the game shorter and less exhausting. And penalties can be three each instead of five each.\nWhat do you think?
217790
Ummmm...I'd rather see the PK's.  I'm a goalkeeper and I played from the time I was 4 all the way through college and I can honestly say, I'm not the hugest fan of PK's.  But it's an art form.  Being able to read the shooter and quick enough to react to the shot takes a lot of skill on the keeper's part and putting the ball someplace where it is impossible for the keeper to save it also takes a lot of skill.  I say keep the PK's.
638421
In the old days before commercialism took over all sports, teams received 2 points for a win and 1 for a draw. FIFA believed that not conceding more goals then the other team was worthy of some type of reward, hence 1 point.
607983
A match can end in a tie only in the first round, because the matches are play by the league system, each team playing one match against each of the other teams in the same group, with three points for a win, one point for a draw and none for a defeat. To rank the teams, in this phase there exist a set of rules (see at the end),  and the two teams coming first and second in each group qualify for the second round or group of 16.\n\nBut, the round of sixteen, quarterfinals, semifinals, play-off for third place and final will all be played in accordance with the knock-out system,  that is: we will have a winner, to do so they will play regular time, if no winner then extratime, if no winner then penalty shots, until you get a winner.\n.\nRULES FOR RANKING THE TEAMS IN THE FIRST ROUND:\nThe ranking of each team in each group will be determined as follows:\na) greatest number of points obtained in all group matches;\nb) goal difference in all group matches;\nc) greatest number of goals scored in all group matches.\nIf two or more teams are equal on the basis of the above three criteria,their rankings will be determined as follows:\nd) greatest number of points obtained in the group matches between the teams concerned;\ne) goal difference resulting from the group matches between the teams concerned;\nf) greater number of goals scored in all group matches between the teams concerned;\ng) drawing of lots by the Organising Committee for the FIFA World Cup
425397
I completely agree with OPríncipe Rules!!!! I'm not in the forum as often as I used to because the questions where all the same. Whenever I did answer a question about the rules and laws of the game, the majority of the other respondents showed that they really didn't understand much of the game but they are so enthusiastic to tell everyone whose the cutest or who is the best player or team!!\n\nI just answered your other questions... The rule actually makes good sense if you think about it!!!! Dad and I have been talking about this for a while now!!! Think about it... you get hurt and need treatment, your team has temporarily lost a player, isn't it fair that the other player who fouled you should be taken off the pitch (if the foul is not enough to warrant a red) until either you return or a substitution can take place, so that the other team doesn't have a temporary numbers advantage when it was their player who was in the wrong!?
583877
Ok, i agree, but i wouldn't  say that it has been changed for the worst.\n\nThe refs have been too quick to to pull out their cards, especially red.\neven if fifa wants to control the game, u have to let the players play.
164422
It's made regulation time more important and games more interesting. In past seasons, before O/T and shootouts, if teams were tied going into the third period, both were more likely to play for the tie and get at least one point rather than zero. That meant that games became boring and a lot of games ended as ties. Fans were bored and the owners realized they needed fans. However, it was recognized that since the teams were tied at the end of regulation both deserved one point. Now comes the interesting part. To make the game more exciting for fans, the teams get the chance for another point by playing O/T with four aside. If still tied, then comes the shootout. Fans are rewarded with the more exciting play in OT/Shootout and the winning teams gets the extra point for their winning effort. The losing team still gets to keep their single point. The whole purpose is to please, attract and hold fans with more exciting hockey.
564697
Me, personally, always knew the off side rule perfectly. And all the rules. It is a big adventage when you play the game. Did you know that the penalty kick could be played as a pass?
580119
Make it an offence to gesture to the referee, encouraging him to show a card to an opposing player. I hate this habit in the game! I'd also advocate the use of television match officials, much like in rugby.
629717
Well said!\nThat is called obstruction!\nWhen a player commit obstruction inside the penalty box, the opponent team is awarded with a penalty kick. Pure and simple. But only who knows a little about soccer can see that: all the other incompetents are just biased and have not idea of what they are talking about! They continue with this BS about "unfair and deserve" while if they really have watched the game, they could have noticed that who really deserved to win the game was Italy. In fact, even tough Australia had greater ball-possession (due to 5 midfielders versus 3 from Italy and due to the 2nd half with an extra-man - btw red card not legitimate) Italy hag greater chances of scoring goals.\nWell, maybe we are wasting our time to talk to those incompetents...
189548
First of all, please believe that European Soccer has no bearing whatsoever on what the NFL would do.  \n\nAnd another interesting note is the amount of security surrounding NFL transportation.  In this day and age, they take no chances.  In fact,  I've read that it is more difficult to be the pilot of a charter NFL jet than to work security for some state's Governors!\n\nHere's what the league rulebook digests says:\nThis would fall under the category of rule 17, Emergencies and Unfair Acts.  \n\nFirst, the options:\n1. Authority to cancel, postpone, or terminate games is vested only in the Commissioner and the League President (other League office representatives and referees may suspend play temporarily; see point No. 3 under this section and point No. 1 under "Authority of Referee" below).\n\nThen, the procedures (my truncation):\n1. If, because of an emergency, a regular-season or postseason game is not started at its scheduled time and cannot be played at any later time that same day, the game nevertheless must be played on a subsequent date to be determined by the Commissioner. \n\n4. For regular-season postponements, the Commissioner will make every effort to set the game for no later than two days after its originally scheduled date and at the same site. If unable to schedule at the same site, he will select an appropriate alternative site. If it is impossible to schedule the game within two days after its original date, the Commissioner will attempt to schedule it on the Tuesday of the next calendar week. The Commissioner will keep in mind the potential for competitive inequities if one or both of the involved clubs has already been scheduled for a game close to the Tuesday of that week (for example, a Thursday game). \n\nSo, the NFL ethic seems to be, play the game somehow.  A cancellation/forfeiture of a game seems to only occur because of willing non-participation.\n\nI think such an event would cause a postponement for a time, and then replays of the games missed at a later date with a rebuilt team.  As sad as that seems, it would galvanize the community.
619913
I agree with him. When your playing a sport that teams only score 1 or even no goals, you pretty much have it won considering the fact that its like 90 something percent that a team that goals first will win or tie. Although im not saying its not possible because its happened.
621742
I agree with you. It's fine to take play back the the first foul(the offside play) but something should definitely be available as a guide for the referee to have some discretion in a situation like that. It was uncalled for and very unsportsman like. You will see this happen frequently though such is the heat of the moment and the passion of the World Cup.
364812
OK what you end up with is a 5 on 3. Of course the goalie can be pulled and make it 5 on 4 with an empty net but that's not likely to be done unless total desperation. So anyway say you have two men sitting already and then get yet another penalty. Well then that player sits in the penalty box BUT his penalty minutes don't start until one of the other guys leave. So say a goal is scored in a 5 on 3. Well now the one is out BUT it is still a 5 on 3 with the start of the last guy's penalty. Of course they always get out of the box in the order they went in. Now I've played hockey video games and had about 2 or 3 guys waiting to serve penalties one time but that's just because I am a violent style player who goes around hitting everyone for no reason and get in trouble for it.
662964
I agree the refereeing has been bad, but I however don't feel it is all their fault.  Fifa has told them to referee a certain way, which is way more tight then players are used too.  This in turn create way more cards.  While there have been some awful decisions like the 3 yellows, or the PK against the US, most of the refereeing is following the strict rules fifa has put in place.  Referees are just easy scapegoats, they are the middlemen in fifa's plan to clean up the game, and get rid of bad challenges, dives, and time wasting.  I feel right now players are having a hard time adjusting to this, and therefore we are seeing way more cards.
579364
They have ruled that more fouls and red cards need to be handed out.\n\nFIFA decided that fewer people on a side is more entertaining, so... instead of 4 red cards per game, we will now see 8.\n\nSeven on seven has been deemed optimal by FIFA.
637048
Already, there is a referee, 2 linesmen, fourth official and at this years world cup, a fifth official, should anything happen to the rest.\n\nUnlike NFL, football doesnt stop every minute or two, so video wouldnt work: wit would be yet another excuse for timewasting and cheating.  \n\nThe current system isnt, and never will be perfect, but i do think the other officials should have more of a say if they see an incident another doesnt.  At the world cup they have earpieces and mics and this should be the way forward.  Yes, video replays can help spot things the eye cant, but we dont want to lose the flow of the game. \n\nSo as far as im concerned, they have sufficient officials on the park at all times already.
645724
there are 53 players on a team, not 42 or 65 like those first two idiots answered. and there are several different fouls. the officials throw yellow penalty flags when a foul is committed. the rules are far too involved and complicated to go into here, but the sport is so strategic it's like a hard hitting chess match. if you watch some games and start learning the rules, i'm sure you'll find it fascinating. thank you for showing such an interest, it's very refreshing to hear a european asking about the rules instead of just bashing a sport they don't understand.