The Round Table: What Would You Change About Football?

Every weekend we go beyond the headlines and talk to real football fans about current topics or issues in the football world.

Today the group was asked what they would change about football at the moment.

On the round table today we were joined by:

Bramble
Luka
Parmar
Jay
Hawk
Iain (me)

If you could change anything about football at the moment, what would it be?

Jay:
Greedy players would be my first thought. Player's, much like society of today, seem to feel entitled to millions of dollars without having to put in the hard work every week. It may seem like an unrealistic change, but what's more realistic... FIFA/UEFA/FA/etc. being less corrupt moving forward, or players playing for passion rather than paychecks?

Luka:
A fourth substitute, designated for goalkeepers (so GK for GK only). And an additional substitute for extra time in cup ties.

Parmar:
Video technology for controversial initial calls by the ref/linesman for goals scored off "apparent offside" or the big one handballs or missed handballs inside the box. It's 2015 for fuck sakes and it's time our game comes into the times.

Parmar:
Add to that controversial "dives" in the box when a player is given a card for embellished when in fact he was fouled.

Iain:
Limited terms on how long FIFA officials can stay in office. Sepp Blatter has been in charge of the world governing body for 17 years now, the organization has been plagued by scandal and he's likely going to stay in power for at least another term. There needs to be a limit on how long he and other executive committee members, along with heads of National Associations can stay in office. More transparency would also be nice. For instance why did Qatar win the bid for 2020 for example? I think we all know why they won, but let's hear the exact reasons why they had a better bid than Australia or America.

Bramble:

1. Complete overhaul of FIFA's hierarchy Starting with Sepp ending with the professional administrator at the front desk. The office of FIFA stinks from on high to down low. Limit the amount of time someone can stay in office as these seemingly lifelong, Cesar-like dictatorship has proven nothing but bad fruit. Same said for England's FA, UEFA, Concacrap all the regional governing bodies.
2. This one may seem far fetched but the BIG, I guess, but it would be 14(?) clubs in the Europe Champions league, and it being an actual league instead of a tournament. Not sure on the in's and outs of how it would work but they for sure wouldn't be in their domestic leagues anymore unless relegated from the CL. Not only would that help domestic leagues by having the big boys gone for at least a season but it'd stop the Champions League from being the predictable mess it's become. Downside is teams like Liverpoop would be champions more (Laughs).
3. The big SC... SALARY CAP. The North American standard should be applied it'd bring teams to a more even keel and it'd force youth academy development again like the days of Yore. Also addresses what Jay said about player greed.
4. 4th sub as stated by Luka.
5. Video tech as stated by SP.
6. Euro back to 16 teams.
7. World Cup goes back to 24 teams.
8. Some type of World Cup-like tourney for club teams. Not the current joke of a tourney in the Far East and Middle East. A month long tournament every two or four years.
9. Shorter seasons for the players sake. Or winter break, in England, for those that need it.