Topic: Penalties from the half way line, kick-ins and other madness experimented.

[Circa1892]

Had a flashback last night to some of the mad and crazy things FIFA have tried to experiment with in pre-season friendlies over the years (whilst, obviously, never bothering to experiment with video technology).

Remember kick-ins in one friendly in place of throw ins, and have a distinct memory of players being given the ball on the half way line to run with at the keeper in place of the traditional penalty shoot-out in one friendly tournament (I distinctly remember us taking part in that one, but I may have hallucinated the whole thing).

Just wondering if anyone has any other memories of any other such experiments in pre-season games, and thoughts on whether they'd actually improve the game?

(Also if anyone has footage of any of these events taking place so I can prove to myself I haven't made these up it'd be great...)

[Moldyman]

Had a flashback last night to some of the mad and crazy things FIFA have tried to experiment with in pre-season friendlies over the years (whilst, obviously, never bothering to experiment with video technology).

Remember kick-ins in one friendly in place of throw ins, and have a distinct memory of players being given the ball on the half way line to run with at the keeper in place of the traditional penalty shoot-out in one friendly tournament (I distinctly remember us taking part in that one, but I may have hallucinated the whole thing).

Just wondering if anyone has any other memories of any other such experiments in pre-season games, and thoughts on whether they'd actually improve the game?

(Also if anyone has footage of any of these events taking place so I can prove to myself I haven't made these up it'd be great...)

I too may be crazy, but i remember one occasion when Robbie Keane played for Inter Milan they won a peno in the dying minutes of a game and took it in the way you describe, ran from the half way line. As he went round the keeper he as brought down and promptly recieved another peno. which he scored. Not even sure they've ever implemented this in Serie A, but I was quite young at the time so it may have been pre-season for all I know. Can anyone confirm this?

[Craigeth]

I seem to remember a hockey style penalty being implemented in a friendly aswell. Strange idea imagine a penalty shootout after extra time everybody would be shattered and then having to take one of those type penalties.

[Buzby]

During the 80's the NASL in America adopted some pretty weird rules, in an attempt to make "soccer" more appealing to people there.

One of them was penalties taken to avoid having draws, where the player started on the 35 yard line (which they also invented!). Some footage seems to exist of this, such as http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uJEnwi7otu0

The 35 yard line was used as an addition to the offside rule, and I think the league also awarded points for goals scored. Not suprisingly FIFA wasn't too happy about any of this!

[Baraka]

hah the nasl, where beckenbauer and pele played in the same team.

[Emlynevermore]

Not a FIFA experiment as such but in Brazil, the referee carries around a can of vanishing spray paint and every time a direct FK from a shooting position is awarded, he marches off 10 yards and "paints" a line behind which the defenders are to stand.  The paint evaporates or vanishes after something like 30 seconds or a minute and it ensures the wall is far enough away when the kick is taken.

Tim Vickery is a fan, and I have to say I am too.

[Adeemo]

Not a FIFA experiment as such but in Brazil, the referee carries around a can of vanishing spray paint and every time a direct FK from a shooting position is awarded, he marches off 10 yards and "paints" a line behind which the defenders are to stand.  The paint evaporates or vanishes after something like 30 seconds or a minute and it ensures the wall is far enough away when the kick is taken.

Tim Vickery is a fan, and I have to say I am too.

Remember thinking at the time that was a good idea.

As for the pens from the halfway line, I remember they still used to do them for a while after launching the MLS. I remember watching when Channel 5 1st arrived and being fascinated by the stupidity of having to turn draws into victories in attempt to appeal to the US audience.

[paulrazor]

wasnt there one for the ref moving the free 10 yards forward for dissent?

was even in a championship manager (Stephane henchoz is one moaning bastard)

i think in a few years we could say it about the 4th and 5th officials at europa league games , they look a bit nuts

[Circa1892]

wasnt there one for the ref moving the free 10 yards forward for dissent?

That was common(ish) in the PL for a year.

I remember Dermot Gallagher often picking the ball up and poncing forward indignantly if anyone argued with him.

[LondonRedMan]

Had a flashback last night to some of the mad and crazy things FIFA have tried to experiment with in pre-season friendlies over the years (whilst, obviously, never bothering to experiment with video technology).

Remember kick-ins in one friendly in place of throw ins, and have a distinct memory of players being given the ball on the half way line to run with at the keeper in place of the traditional penalty shoot-out in one friendly tournament (I distinctly remember us taking part in that one, but I may have hallucinated the whole thing).

Just wondering if anyone has any other memories of any other such experiments in pre-season games, and thoughts on whether they'd actually improve the game?

(Also if anyone has footage of any of these events taking place so I can prove to myself I haven't made these up it'd be great...)

American style? I think they do that in the Major League

[KERRYKOP]

I seem to remember a hockey style penalty being implemented in a friendly aswell. Strange idea imagine a penalty shootout after extra time everybody would be shattered and then having to take one of those type penalties.

That penalty was first used in the Original American league. Thought it looked pretty good to be fair.

[scatman]

Not a FIFA experiment as such but in Brazil, the referee carries around a can of vanishing spray paint and every time a direct FK from a shooting position is awarded, he marches off 10 yards and "paints" a line behind which the defenders are to stand.  The paint evaporates or vanishes after something like 30 seconds or a minute and it ensures the wall is far enough away when the kick is taken.

Tim Vickery is a fan, and I have to say I am too.

This was used in the Copa America last summer.

[Adeemo]

wasnt there one for the ref moving the free 10 yards forward for dissent?

What the fuck ever happened to that? I know it never had any positive effect, but I don't recall hearing the rule had been dropped.

[paulrazor]

What the fuck ever happened to that? I know it never had any positive effect, but I don't recall hearing the rule had been dropped.

That was common(ish) in the PL for a year.

I remember Dermot Gallagher often picking the ball up and poncing forward indignantly if anyone argued with him.

should have been brought to light again with the "respect campaign"

[ThepepeReina]

Yeh didnt anyone play american pens when younger? Half way line, 30 seconds to beat the keeper....

[Redallover11]

This was used in the Copa America last summer.

The MLS uses it now. The refs carry what looks like talc or some powder and squirt it out of a little balloon type thingy.(more like an old style bicycle horn) they keep on their waist. It works really well.