The Ultimate Football Thread

Recently Henry roobed the keeper to score and see it disallowed, and this weekend Muzzy Izzet did it too (very good technically I thought). Both perfectly OK goals and would have been given a few years ago, I don't know what changed. The goals should really have stood.

One thing I'd like to bring up is the six-second rule. For those who forgot, it states that goalkeepers can have the ball in their hands for up to six seconds before they have to release it (the rule introduced a few years ago to replace the "four forward steps" rule). I have seen so many occasions where the goalkeeper holds the ball much longer and the referee allows it. When it was first introduced refs had no problem enforcing it but no one does anymore. Why? Why is this rule persistently overlooked by refs? I'm probably the only one in the world who will complain but. I do remember once when Shearer prevented Jasskelainen from clearing the ball in time, an indirect free kick was awarded and Shearer hammered it in. Would be interesting...

i never knew the 6 secs rule! but can you hold the ball for 6 seconds, then release it and ball bounces back to hand, then hold it for another 6 seconds?

Recently Henry roobed the keeper to score and see it disallowed, and this weekend Muzzy Izzet did it too (very good technically I thought). Both perfectly OK goals and would have been given a few years ago, I don't know what changed. The goals should really have stood.

One thing I'd like to bring up is the six-second rule. For those who forgot, it states that goalkeepers can have the ball in their hands for up to six seconds before they have to release it (the rule introduced a few years ago to replace the "four forward steps" rule). I have seen so many occasions where the goalkeeper holds the ball much longer and the referee allows it. When it was first introduced refs had no problem enforcing it but no one does anymore. Why? Why is this rule persistently overlooked by refs? I'm probably the only one in the world who will complain but. I do remember once when Shearer prevented Jasskelainen from clearing the ball in time, an indirect free kick was awarded and Shearer hammered it in. Would be interesting...

Would be interestin, they still enforce it in Spain and Italy, much more than here. Did ya c the Ronaldinho sendin off, it was ridiculous!! All he did was head it out of the keepers one hand, which the ball was just lying on top of. And got a 2nd yellow, evil evil referee he was.

All that needed was a word; "Oi, behave signor"...

Yeah not even that, cus Ronaldo wasn't breakin any rules. Stupid ref shud read the big book of how to referee!!

are you guys for/against video refing?

are you guys for/against video refing?

Definitely, for like penalty decisions and stuff! Refs so often get it wrong!

Yes, as part of a complete overhaul of the rules, but not so that it wastes too much time, thus:

· The clock is stopped every time the ball goes dead, by the 4th official not the referee.
· 60 minutes are played like this, not 90
· The ref or 4th official checks the video after each goal, alleged goal or penalty incident
· A la American Football, each manager is allowed one opportunity per game to make the ref look over a decision again and reconsider based on video
· Cameras are inserted in each post (facing inwards) and the crossbar (facing downwards) [for some reason I think FIFA have said this won't be allowed]

There is no feasible alternative to a linesman within the current offside rules.

A whacky idea would be a subbuteo style line across the pitch halfway between the middle and the goal line where you can only be offside once ahead of that line. Forwards will hang around here, so there'll always have to be defenders back there too, therefore the game will be more stretched and there will be more goals.

but video reffing could take away the enjoyment factor a bit?

That is true. I'm back against video reffing now. Man utd seem to do fine without it.

Man U and video refs... will we see Roy Keane chasing a VCR across the pitch shouting at it?

Good old Keane

great goal by chelseea 1-0

By whom?