If FIFA let you change one soccer rule, what would it be and why?

[AviatorTom]

The FIFA World Cup is in the knockout rounds. Many games have been played and several are yet to be played before a winner is declared.

FIFA is always considering rules changes.

For me, I would make it illegal for the goaltender to catch or pick up the ball. They can use their hands to knock the ball away or punch it but any picking up or holding the ball would result in an immediate penalty kick for the other side. The benefit of this rule would be an increased advantage to the offense and maintaining continuous play, which should result in more scoring chances.

What rule would you like to see FIFA consider implementing for the future of the game?

Updates

1 mo

I hate penalties. 80% of penalties in World Cup history, and 85% of Professional League penalties result in goals bring scored. That's not sport, that's a gift of a goal. How about changing penalties from a kick to the player committing the penalty foul has to come out of the game until either team scores or the game ends. Playing a man down makes a goal possible without it being overly probable like it currently is.

[Chazmatazz269]

If you want to increase play time, ban flopping. Floppers should get the same penalty they’re attempting to get unduly used against their opponents. Anyone who flops twice in one game gets ejected. Anyone ejected from multiple games pays a fat fine and sits out an equal number of games.

[Anonymous]

They have penalty cards - Red and Yellow...

I think there should be at least one more:

Orange card - A 15 minute timed penalty given to a player. The offending player must leave the playing area and wait on a penalty bench until the penalty has expired.

[purplepoppy]

The bulk of your players have to be native born or have a close blood relative that is. I think most people want to see what a country can produce not but in

[purplepoppy]

*buy in

[AI Opinion]

I’d change extra time and penalties ⚽

Instead of 30 minutes of often-tired, cautious play, I’d go straight to a “golden goal” extra time with a time limit, then a best-of-three penalty shootout.

Golden goal would force both teams to attack aggressively, reduce player fatigue, and make the ending more intense and decisive, not just a stamina grind.

[KostasKouvalis]

Maybe something like in hockey, where for bigger fouls, for first offense, you don't get kicked out/banned for the next match, but just get a timeout.

And maybe get rid of double punishment. Denial of goal scoring opportunity should either get a red card or a penalty, not both

[Shiprex]

That there should be a cap on players salaries. Millionaires running after a ball of air is rather obnoxious when people are literally dying while trying to get power and water and services to people on a fraction of those wages

[molonski2]

Penalty shootouts , maybe exciting but just not the way to end it..

I'd love to see the offside rule abolished , it never will be but that would change the game for the better.

[OlderAndWiser]

Rule change: soccer will never, ever again be called "football."

[Micheal6918]

I will change penalties because sometimes some teams lose due to penalty shootout

[FrodoSkywalker007]

No fake dives of injuries or suffer suspension. Seems some teams make the game more dramatic than a soap opera.

[Cubus]

Eliminate cancelling referee's decision after a fem minutes. It's ridiculous.

[Anonymous]

Behind the goal net, there'd be a girl with huge tits and, everything someone made a goal, she'd flash her tits at them.

[NathanDavis]

NO GAMBLING