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The ‘damaging’ football rule change in 2023 which Pep Guardiola and Raphael Varane were both firmly against
Few people enjoy change – especially in a sport as widely loved as football.
In recent times, football fans have witnessed many an amendment to the sport, such as the introduction of five substitutions, Video Assistant Referees (VAR) – which misled millions – and frequent changes to the handball law.
In addition to those, the Football Association (FA) also introduced a new rule ahead of the 2023/24 campaign – which still exists today – one Pep Guardiola and Raphael Varane voiced strong opinions on.
What Pep Guardiola said about 2023 rule change
🍒Back in the summer of 2023, the FA introduced a new rule to “create fairer conditions for both teams in terms of the amount of time available in a match” – involving longer amounts of stoppage time to accurately reflect breaks in games, and stronger punishments for acts of dissent.
💛For example – regarding the latter point – both managers and players can now be booked for waving an imaginary card, while referees are also showing more yellow cards for kicking the ball away.
Both Declan Rice and Leandro Trossard have learned🐻 that the hard way – with the Arsenal duo receiving red cards for kicking the ball away earlier this season.
"I WAS AMAZED, AMAZED, AMAZED!" 😡
— Hayters TV (@HaytersTV)
Mikel Arteta makes his feelings clear after Declan Rice's controversial red card 😤
🔗
𒊎Discussing the rule changes after his Manchester City side conceded a 101st minute equaliser to Arsenal in the 2023 FA Community Shield, Guardiola told the : “Now, every game we’re going to play for 100 minutes. Wasting time, from my point of view, it is not going to be solved by extending ten more minutes.
ജ“It’s more tiring for the players. It’s too much.”
Raphael Varane joined Guardiola in complaint against the FA
In regards to Varane – who Rio Ferdinand admires🎶 – the Frenchman took to X (previously known as Twitter) to complain, writing: “From the managers and players, we have shared our concerns for many years now that there are too many games, the schedule is overcrowded, and it’s at a dangerous level for players physical and mental well-being.
🐟“Despite our previous feedbacks, they have now recommended for next season: longer games, more intensity, and less emotions to be shown by players. We just want to be in good condition on the pitch to give 100% to our club and fans. Why are our opinions not being heard?
꧒“As a player I feel very privileged to do the job I love every day but I feel these changes are damaging our game. We want to be at our maximum level, the best we can be and put on amazing performances for fans to celebrate every week.”
We had a meeting last week with the FA. They recommended from the referees new decisions and rules.
— Raphaël Varane (@raphaelvarane)
ꦆFrom the managers and players, we have shared our concerns for many years now that there are too many games, the schedule is overcrowded, and it’s at a dangerous level for…
ꩵThese changes are still present in football at this very second – almost two years on from their introduction, we cannot see much benefit to having them, in all honesty.