Reinventing football: How new rules would change the way football is played

Making the punishment more appropriately fit the crime, by giving free-kicks instead of penalties for these types of fouls in the box, would empower defenders to engage far more physically.

Centre-backs could step in and challenge without the constant fear of conceding a penalty for minimal contact. We’d likely see more front-footed and aggressive defending against forwards receiving the ball with their back to goal, which would make hold-up play more difficult. In wider areas, defenders would be able to physically usher players out of the box more often, too.

This more aggressive style of duelling would make attacking against low-blocks difficult. Attacking centrally and sustaining pressure for long periods of the game has the added benefit of winning penalties, which would cease to be the case. There may therefore be an increased focus on wide play and crosses instead.

To counteract aggressive defending in low blocks, attacking teams would likely focus on fast, direct attacks – not allowing opponents to get lots of players back into their own box.

From a wider perspective, we could see a reduction in goals scored. Goals from penalties often force stubborn defensive teams to come out and play. Without this, defending teams would have less reason to commit bodies forward, leading to more cautious games.