Thanks to Arsene Wenger, the International Football Association Board (IFAB) will trial the introduction of kick-ins instead of throw-ins to speed up the game.
Since managerial retirement, the Arsenal legend has taken on the position of Chief of Global Football Development at FIFA. This allows him to pitch his ideas. And after conversations at the IFAB general meeting, he’s got his plan over the line.
In the past, Arsene Wenger claimed throw-ins and free-kicks are the biggest time wasters. Therefore, he is trying, in his words, ‘to make the game more spectacular and quicker’.
To do this, the 72-year-old has suggested that football should render the idea of a 5-second throw-in limit obsolete and replace it with players recommencing play with their feet.
Arsene Wenger is very confident kick-ins will change the game
The former Premier League winner received massive criticism for supporting the concept of a biennial World Cup. But in a more popular move, he has started work on a health check of the game, which will focus on contacting national associates around the planet with massive importance placed on grassroots and coaching.
However, his idea to change one of football’s oldest rules has resulted in the most attention.
In 2021, as per the Daily Mirror, he said: “There are two big time-wasters at the moment – throw-ins and free kicks, and a little bit goal-kicks as well because you play out now in the box.
“The target is to make the game more spectacular and quicker, and maybe with throw-ins, you could play with your feet, but in a limit of five seconds, for example, things like that. But it has to be tested and then has to be accepted by the IFAB. So we are looking at many things, but there is not a lot anymore you can change.”
Featured Image Credit: Getty