UEFA President Michel Platini wants "to review the operation of modern football," according to the AFP. In “Parlons Football,” his new book out Thursday, Platini calls for several measures that will "improve the playing field." Platini "would like 'the power to make two changes at halftime while keeping the option of three (other) changes during the course of the game.'” Platini said the match “would not experience any further interruptions, if there are more changes. As far as the teams go, they are a large workforce who must be taken into consideration.” Moreover, to combat “this mania of contesting the referee” that “has spread into a true epidemic in the football world”, Platini advocates “the creation of a white card” that “would be followed by a temporary expulsion -- a break -- of ten minutes on the bench.” Platini would also like "that we abolish the concept of an age limit for the referee in order to keep only the ones with expertise and physical capability.” Furthermore, he calls for “the end of the triple punishment for the last defender at fault (penalty, expulsion, suspension)” to “put in place double punishment: penalty and yellow card if the misconduct is committed inside the penalty area; expulsion and free kick if the misconduct is committed outside the penalty area” (AFP, 10/16).
