More subs? Shorter halves? Bans for diving? Pundits and managers propose football law changes

By Jack Wilkinson

Image: Thibaut Courtois was the victim of 'triple punishment' in Chelsea's opening day draw with Swansea

As the International Football Association Board (IFAB) prepares to enforce changes to football laws, we've asked Sky Sports Now guests and Premier League managers for their own proposals...

Football laws will undergo their most extensive alteration since the introduction of goal-line technology in 2012 this year, with seven key areas subject to change as of June 1.

But has the IFAB missed anything? Former Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher was joined in the Sky Sports News HQ studio by former England defenders Chris Powell and Steve Howey who, along with a host of top-flight managers, suggested proposals they would like to see implemented.

IFAB announce law changes

The Interntional Football Association Board has published law changes for 2016/17 season

IFAB law changes

  • Removal of triple punishment
  • Kicking off backwards
  • Offside free-kicks
  • Injured players staying on pitch
  • Red cards before kick-off
  • Stricter penalty rules
  • Violent conduct without contact

We also want to hear your views - leave your suggestions in the message boards below or tweet @SkyFootball...

Dermot Gallagher's proposals

1. Throw-ins to be taken by the nearest person when the ball goes out

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DERMOT SAYS: "It infuriates me how long it takes to get the ball back in play."

2. Halves reduced to 35 minutes with an independent timekeeper stopping the clock when the ball goes out of play

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DERMOT SAYS: "Everybody would know that we're going to get 70 minutes of football. I watched some games and I'm not sure whether we get an hour of football in some matches."

Former Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher tells us what changes he would make to the laws of football.

3. Ban all substitutions in stoppage time

DERMOT SAYS: "It's nearly always a winning team that makes substitutions just to break up the flow of the game. I realise there could be a serious injury so the caveat, for me, would be that if you had to replace a player you could. However, to prevent people manipulating the rule, the player who came off wouldn't be allowed to play in the next game."

Steve Howey's proposals

1. Punishment for feigning injury/simulation

HOWEY SAYS: "Moussa Sissoko went down in the box against Tottenham on the final day of the season and referee Anthony Taylor was so unlucky because from his angle it looked like he had been fouled. However, on second view there wasn't any contact from Jan Vertonghen. Perhaps we could look at whether players who have cheated the referee could be punished retrospectively."

2. Punishment for players surrounding officials

Image: Howey would like to see crowding the referee eradicated from the game

HOWEY SAYS: "If you've got more than three or four players going around the referee that doesn't help him at all. That has to stop. Normally you would expect just the captain, although that is difficult if the captain is the goalkeeper."

3. Clarification of the offside law

HOWEY SAYS: "In my career as a defender, if a player was offside they were offside. Now it's difficult because of "active" and "inactive" players. Back in the day you could push the defensive line up and catch strikers offside, that doesn't happen now. Of course you want to see goals but it's tough for linesmen and defenders. If a player is offside he should be offside because, at present, there are differing opinions and decisions week in week out."

Chris Powell's proposals

1. Additional substitutes in extra-time of cup games

POWELL SAYS: "This could apply to extra-time in general. I watched the League Two play-off between Accrington and Wimbledon and Lyle Taylor was obviously struggling but, because Wimbledon had used their three subs, he couldn't come off. He could have carried on, picked up an injury and missed the final so I feel additional subs would be good."

2. Third-placed finish straight to play-off final

Image: Brighton were dumped out of the play-offs despite finishing the season third with 89 points

POWELL SAYS: "If you finish third after 46 games you should go to Wembley. The sixth-place team should play the fifth team in a one-off game at the fifth-placed team's ground because they finished higher and should have the advantage. The winner of that plays the fourth-placed team in a one-off at their ground and then the winner of that plays the third-placed team at Wembley. The handicap is there for wherever you finish in the league and I feel this should happen in the play-offs."

Managers' proposals

Arsene Wenger

"I'd like to see video introduced for offside. It should happen in a similar way to goal-line technology. It would open up the game and would give an insight to the linesman who could be a bit more permissive. I think it would make many decisions easier."

Image: Aaron Ramsey wrongfully had a goal ruled out for offside in Arsenal's goalless draw with Liverpool in August

Ronald Koeman

"We need to use more technology in football because there are still incorrect decisions in games. We can and we need to change that because it would make football fairer."

Mark Hughes

"I'd like an independent timekeeper because it's one of those grey areas where, at the end of games, you have no idea what the referee is going to inform his assistant to add on."

I'd like to have more players on my bench. That's the first thing I think about. It is important to have the opportunity to change the same players but have more choice.
Leicester manager Claudio Ranieri

Francesco Guidolin

"Managers should have one or two time-outs each game. It is an important new possibility to communicate with players during a game."

Your proposals

What football law changes would you like to see? Leave your suggestions in the message boards below or tweet @SkyFootball.

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