The International Football Association Board (IFAB), which is responsible for changing the rules of football, gave the go-ahead for a pilot project at its annual general meeting. Accordingly, in the second Dutch league it should be tested whether kick-ins instead of throw-ins make the game more attractive, faster and ultimately more exciting.
The driving force behind this reform is ex-Arsenal coach Arsene Wenger, who made this suggestion in L’Equipe two years ago. “Five minutes before the end of the game, a throw-in should bring an advantage. But in these situations you are faced with ten outfield players while your team only has nine,” explained the Frenchman, who serves as FIFA’s Chief Head of Global Football Development.
Wenger referred to statistics that the ball is lost in eight out of ten such throw-in situations. In addition, throw-ins, which have been part of the regulation since 1863, would be used for time play.
Source: Nachrichten
