Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis has put forward a series of radical proposals to overhaul football's rules, including slashing match durations to just 50 minutes. The 76-year-old club owner, who has led Napoli to two Serie A titles since taking over in 2004, believes these changes are essential to keep the sport engaging for younger generations.
De Laurentiis's Vision for a Faster, More Exciting Game
In a recent interview with The Athletic, De Laurentiis outlined his bold ideas to transform football. His primary suggestion is to reduce each half from 45 minutes to 25 minutes, creating a total match time of 50 minutes. He argues that this would eliminate time-wasting and keep the action more intense. "No 1: I will reduce from 45 minutes each (half) to 25 minutes. But also you cannot stay down on the field and play around like an actor! 'NO - you will go OUT!'" he stated emphatically.
Scrapping Cards for Rugby-Style Sin Bins
Another significant change De Laurentiis advocates is the complete abolition of yellow and red cards. Instead, he proposes implementing a sin bin system similar to rugby, where players are temporarily removed from the pitch for infractions. "I will never use a red card and a yellow card. I would say 'YOU - get out for five minutes [for a yellow card]' And 'YOU - get out for 20 minutes for a red card!'" he explained. This approach, he believes, would maintain player participation while still penalising misconduct effectively.
Overhauling Offside to Boost Goal Scoring
De Laurentiis also targets the offside rule, calling for modifications to increase goal-scoring opportunities and make matches more spectacular. "Too few goals! So it is not spectacular. You must make more goals. And to make more goals, you must change the rules," he asserted. He specifically criticises narrow offside decisions, suggesting that goals should not be disallowed for marginal calls. "You cannot (cancel) a goal just for a few millimetres… the offside must be changed, a lot."
Aligning with Broader Football Innovations
De Laurentiis's offside proposal aligns with ongoing efforts by figures like Arsene Wenger, who has pushed for a 'daylight' rule requiring clear separation between attackers and defenders for offside offences. The Canadian Premier League is currently trialling this new interpretation, with Wenger noting its potential to improve game flow and attacking play. "This is an important pilot. By testing this new interpretation in a professional competition, we can better understand its impact," Wenger commented.
Motivation: Attracting the Next Generation
The Napoli president's drive for change stems from a concern about football's appeal to younger audiences. "The new generation is our gold. If we don't please them, we will die. You will not have the same participation as you had in the last 100 years," he warned. His suggestions come amid broader discussions within FIFA about rule modifications, though De Laurentiis's ideas are among the most dramatic proposed by a high-profile football figure.
Under De Laurentiis's ownership, Napoli has risen from the third tier to become a Serie A powerhouse, winning two league titles and three Italian Cups while regularly competing in the Champions League. Despite this success, he remains focused on evolving the sport to ensure its future vitality. His proposals highlight a growing trend in football to adapt rules for modern audiences, though their implementation would require significant approval from governing bodies.
