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Since its inception in 1930, FIFA World cup has come a long way into the 21st century. As days go by we are heading into another mesmerising event in Brazil come this summer. But all this while the game has undergone and experienced quite a lot of changes over the years. We take a look at perhaps the 6 major alterations that have shaped up and affected the modern game.
#1 Original Offside rule to attacker
The offside rule always has been a controversial matter in the context of the modern game. Until the 1990's, the rule suggested that the forward had to be behind the line of the opponent's defence which gave the back four the upper hand. The likes of Pele, Gerd Muller, Cryuff and Maradona played their game amongst these standards. Defensive tactics worked out effectively and the general concern among fans stated that the game needed some fine tuning to be more attractive.
The new offside rule was established and came as a breather for the team on the offense. The new law suggested that if the attacker is to be in the same line as the last defender he will be onside. This applies only to the target man to whom the pass has been designated to regardless of his teammates being ahead of the opposition back line or not. So the initiative to transform the game and make it attacking oriented was taken through a set of amendments which were deemed as changes for the good of the game.
#2 Backpass rule revised and Tackling from behind severely penalised
After the 1990 FIFA World cup concluded, the post analysis of the tournament yielded some inefficiencies in regards to the guidelines that still needed to be revamped. One of the issues that came along was the deliberate handling of backpasses made to the goalkeepers at that time. The International football Association Board (IFAB) revised the back pass rule and declared that a pass played behind to the goalie would have to be dealt with his feet. Should the pass be made by a header will imply that he can grab the ball with his hands.
In General, a reaction of reluctancy came after the announcement of the new rule. But the globally set standard is now very much acknowledged. In addition to it, the rule of tackling from behind was altered in 1998 as it was qualified as a red card offense. The vision to make footballing inclined more towards the offensive side took a major leap and the game looked attractive than its previous editions.
#3 Golden Goal to Extra Time
The golden goal rule at the time of its use produced a divided audience.Some people liked it and others didn't. The regulation was utilised at the 1998 and 2002 editions of the World Cup. But it proved to be decisive on two occasions which included Germany at the 1996 Euros and for France after 4 years in the same tournament. The rule stated that after the completion of 90 minutes, two fifteen-minute periods of extra time would be played. If any team scored a goal during the extra time, that team became the winner and the game would come to a halt at that point. If both teams remained even then penalty shootout would decide the proceedings.
Since 2004, the rule has been abolished which has been replaced by the rule of extra time where both teams have to play out the entire 30 minutes comprising of two halves of fifteen minutes each. The team which leads the scoreline at the end of 120 minutes will come out victorious or else the game will go into penalties.
The last World cup in South Africa saw two games approach into extra time which included the infamous handball incident of Luis Suarez who denied a sure goal for Ghana. Ghana failed to convert the penalty and the game was won by Uruguay in a shootout. The second match was the memorable final where Iniesta scored the decisive goal and led Spain to it first ever World cup victory. Recent reports have suggested that Fifa might be considering the revival of the golden goal rule in Brazil this summer. Whether it is applied or not remains to be seen.
#4 The Penalty trick gets a No go
Spot kicks have been a crucial segment specially in tight affairs in the World Cup. The competition has produced some of the most compelling moments from penalties over the years the most recent being the final shootout between Italy and France in 2006. But the increased number of modifications and feinting while running up to take the kick has caused the rules to be rewritten.
Just 10 days before the 2010 World Cup, FIFA announced that players will no longer be able to stop before kicking the ball to try and trick the goalkeeper. Players who feint will receive a yellow card and will have to retake the penalty if it goes into the net. The IFAB also decided to grant further powers to the fourth official. This aspect has removed the deceiving moves that the likes of South American players would often execute.
#5 Player eligiblity for nations restricted
Historically, a player could represent for different teams at the international level. It wasn't an objectionable subject at the time. Iconic players like Alfred Di Stefano, Ferenc Puskas and Joseph Altafini played for different nationalities in their respective careers. Some international players even played for another FIFA-recognised country in unofficial international matches(matches not recognised by FIFA).
But in January 2004, FIFA restructured its national eligibility criteria and implemented new guidelines that permitted players to represent one country at youth level and another at the senior level. Antar Yahia became the first player ever to do so when he featured for France under 18 team before playing for Algeria. Additional rulings implied that the player must have a clear connection to a country they want to represent. In June 2009, Fifa Congress passed a motion that removed the age limit for players who had already played for a country's national team at youth level to change national associations.
This imposition has served as a restriction and the stringent set of laws have reshaped the modern era game.
#6 Format of the tournament
Over the years the tournament has seen a lot of different structures with regards to the format. Most of the versions have had round robin tournaments followed by single elimination knockout stages. Although that has been the order through recent times, there have been many phases with surprising changes.
The first ever tournament was competed in 1930 with a group stage followed by a knockout round comprising of four teams. From 1934-38, the competition was a single elimination tournament without any group stage. The only competition without an official final was the 1950 World Cup in Brazil where a group stage was followed by a final group stage of 4 teams(group winners). It went on through several reorganisations up until 1998 when the modern day format was established with a group stage being conducted succeeded by a knockout round with 16 teams. That has been the way teams have battled out their places in recent years and looks to be doing good.
