The Gift To Italians - Why Doesn't FIFA Replace PK with Red/Yellow Card

I agree on this point, but I think that some PKs really are deserved. For instance, if a player has a breakaway on goal and the last defender pulls him down from behind, that should be a penalty kick because the pk is equivalent to the scoring opportunity that the forward originally had

Had there been an actual penalty, I agree with giving a pk. That close to the goal, the offense would have had a legitimate chance to score taken away by the defenders penalty. That being said, a penalty should not have been called. The same exact tackle at midfield in the middle of the game would not have been called.

Speeve wrote:

I agree on this point, but I think that some PKs really are deserved. For instance, if a player has a breakaway on goal and the last defender pulls him down from behind, that should be a penalty kick because the pk is equivalent to the scoring opportunity that the forward originally had

Plus you get the red card for denying an obvious goal scoring opportunity.

The problem is that someone would take the yellow/red card just to stop a goal-scoring opportunity if there were no penalty kicks. I've seen matches where someone will take a redcard on a breakaway but stop the the attacking player outside the box to prevent a PK situation.

Also, and this relates to the Swiss vs. Ukes, if you have to be carried off on a stretcher, then stand up and run up and down the sideline ready to come back in = penalty kick.

i agree with you completely that a penalty should never have been given to the Italian's. It was blatant cheating and he just saw Niel on the floor so he ran forward into him and fell over!

However, a penalty for a foul inside the area has been a rule in football for longer than anyone in this thread has been alive. It certainly isn't going to change and nor should it.

The only rules that seem to change these days is the interpretation of the offside rule which sometimes seems to change mid match it happens so often! However, major rules such as penalties are here to stay.

Streeeetch wrote:

Also, and this relates to the Swiss vs. Ukes, if you have to be carried off on a stretcher, then stand up and run up and down the sideline ready to come back in = penalty kick.

That's bullshit. The problem is that the stretchers come on for no reason. If you take a shot to the ankle or shin or somemthing, it's perfectly normal to need a few moments to shake off the initial blow before jumping back on your feet.

What they shouldn't do is insist on playing the ball out and wait for treatment. Unless it's the GK just play on. If the player is really so hurt that he can't even limp off to the side by himself, let him signal for the stretcher and THEN if he comes straight back give him a yellow card. That's how it works in plenty of leagues, but at the world cup FIFA have instructed the refs to not allow playing if any player is down.