10 Things That Could Change Football As We Know It

By: Daryl | March 19th, 2009

Man Utd top of the Prem, Barca top of La Liga, Inter top of Serie A. Four English teams in the Champions League quarter-finals. Ronaldo to Real Madrid. Not enough Englishmen in the Premier League. Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah.

I love football -even in its current form – but sometimes feel like I’m watching repeats (or re-runs, for American readers).

So I’m ready for a change. For something to shake up the status quo and make everyone rethink things a bit.

Here are 10 Things That Could Change Football As We Know It. Not all of them are necessarily good ideas, but all of them have been suggested or discussed at some point, so none are beyond the realms of possibility:

1. The 6+5 rule
This is basically Sepp Blatter’s idea for reshaping football. Every team’s first XI must consist of at least six domestic players (eg English players in an English Premier League team) and no more than five non-domestic players. Arsene Wenger probably has nightmares about this.

Famously, it breaks about a thousand European Union labour laws, and the European Club Association isn’t keen either. So UEFA’s proposal for a minimum number of “homegrown players” (ie players from the clubs youth system) seems a lot more realistic.

2. No transfers for Under-18s
Michel Platini has proposed a plan to raise the minimum age at which a player can be transferred between European clubs from 16 to 18.

This would also mean European clubs couldn’t buy players from outside Europe who are under 18. Combine this with the above homegrown player rule and we’re looking at a massive shake up.

3. Video technology
The technology exists for instant video replays to help referees make decisions. There just isn’t the will to use it. Some say it would slow the game down, others say it could be done quickly and correctly. Personally, I think it’s weird that everyone watching a game on TV gets to see a replay and the ref doesn’t.

4. Premier League money meltdown
The Prem’s income is gargantuan. But then so is it’s bill. Clubs are falling over each other to outspend the opposition, which could end badly. The end of the Premier League as the global megabrand that its is would definitely shake up the status quo.

The Bundesliga business model (eg clubs instead of PLCs) seems a lot more sensible. As do the ticket prices. They are the tortoise to the Premier League/La Liga/Serie A hare. And with the Bundesliga revenues steadily rising, the league is in prime position to be the new hot ticket for big name players, should anything happen to the big three.

5. Co-ed football
It’s nearly happened a couple of times. Perugia tried to sign Swedish striker Hanna Ljungberg back in 2003, while Maribel Dominguez came close to signing for Mexican second-division side Celaya in late 2004. And then there was Marta nearly but not quite turning out for Oldham in a pre-season friendly recently.

FIFA aren’t keen, and have ruled that “There must be a clear separation between men’s and women’s football,” with “no exceptions.” (Maybe there’s not enough money in it?) But never say never.

6. European Super League
The rumours of Europe’s top clubs abandoning domestic leagues to form a breakaway league of superman and supermoney just will not die. If it ever happens, it will be a bizarre mixture of fascinating and disgusting to watch. And domestic football in the most popular leagues will be drastically reshaped. For example, imagine a Premier League where Aston Villa, Everton and co fight for the Premier League title while Man Utd, Arsenal, Liverpool and Chelsea are playing with their new friends.

7. Salary/Spending cap
As suggested by AC Milan chief exec Adriano Galliani today. He’s suggesting a US sports style hard salary cap, where all teams have the same predetermined limit on the amount that can be spent on wages.

The alternative plan is to limit club spending to a percentage of club income and prevent teams spending a sugar daddy’s money/spending themselves into oblivion.

8. A big money non-European league
Right now, all the football money and power is focused in Europe. But it doesn’t have to be that way forever. And I’d argue that – don’t laugh – the USA could one day become a destination. Not many Europeans have much respect for MLS right now, but for a 14 year old league they’re not doing too badly. There’s still a potentially massive market in North America just waiting to be cracked, and if that happens… we could finally see a footballing destination outside of Europe. Just don’t hold your breath…

9. The internet
It’s already happening, slowly but surely. Even if certain leagues [cough - Premier League - cough] are slow to embrace it. But imagine if one day you were able to watch any football match from anywhere in the world via the magic of computers, for either a modest monthly subscription or on an affordable (99c per game?) PPV basis. I can almost hear the TV revenues crashing now.

10. The end of international friendlies
The club vs country battle is almost over. And clubs have definitely won. Big players pull out of friendlies with imaginary thigh strains, and teams like Brazil rarely play a friendly in Brazil because there’s more money to be made elsewhere. If friendlies disappeared to be replaced by simple meetups and training sessions, that would be a loss for football fans. But if we could replace friendlies with some sort of world league or a series of regional leagues, then maybe we could re-introduce some competitiveness to international dates.

So what do you think?

Which of these would change football the most? Which would be the best thing to happen? Which would be the worst thing to happen? And which is most likely to happen?