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Netherlands legend Marco van Basten suggests abolishing offside from football in his radical 10 point plan

Back in August 2016, Netherlands and AC Milan footballing great Marco van Basten took up a role a...
Newstalk
Newstalk

16.58 18 Jan 2017


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Netherlands legend Marco van B...

Netherlands legend Marco van Basten suggests abolishing offside from football in his radical 10 point plan

Newstalk
Newstalk

16.58 18 Jan 2017


Share this article


Back in August 2016, Netherlands and AC Milan footballing great Marco van Basten took up a role at FIFA.

Essentially, the man who scored that volley in the Euro 88 final against USSR as Netherlands won their first and only senior international trophy, was named FIFA Chief Officer for Technical Development by world football's governing body.

Officially according to FIFA, his role encompasses "heading up all technical areas ranging from football technology innovation to refereeing".

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With video technology to help referees and other changes that could aid the sport, football isn't likely to remain exactly as it is today.

For example, the back pass rule brought in during the early '90s had a positive effect on the modern game as it outlawed goalkeepers from picking up backpasses from their own team-mates.

However, Van Basten has some very radical ideas in a 10 point plan that he discussed with German tabloid Bild.

One of the big changes would be getting rid of the offisde rule. The ex-Netherlands boss reasons that "football now resembles handball" and that currently there is a lack of space in the box.

Speaking of the penalty box, taking penalties from the spot 12 yards out would be something he would like to see changing in the long term when it comes to a replacement for extra time. His proposal would be more along the lines of the old MLS style run up from 25 metres, one on one with the goalkeeper, before having to get a shot away within a limited period of time as you can see above.

Van Basten says: "Each team would have five attempts. The referee whistles, then the player runs from 25 meters towards the goalkeeper. The action must be completed within eight seconds. The goalkeeper cannot leave the penalty area."

The yellow card for would also be replaced by a five or ten minute time penalty (similar to a sin bin in rugby).

In another proposal that has similarities to rugby, Van Basten wants to see only team captains having permission to speak to match officials about decisions.


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