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Thierry Henry proposes five new rules to revamp football including extra points for goals

Thierry Henry proposes five new rules to revamp football including extra points for goals

The Arsenal legend has tackled some of the key issues in the modern game.

Arsenal legend Thierry Henry has revealed his five new rules to revamp football, including extra points for goals.

From the introduction of VAR to the number of substitutions permitted, it feels like the beautiful game has changed a lot over the past few years.

As the saying goes though, if you're not moving forwards then you're going backwards, and football's lawmakers are always looking for ways to improve the global game.

Former Arsenal and France striker Thierry Henry certainly knows a thing or two about football, having scored 417 career goals while winning the World Cup, European Championship, Premier League and Champions League.

Now, Arsenal's all-time most capped player has suggested five rules that he believes would revolutionise football for the better.

Appearing as a pundit on CBS Sport's coverage of the Champions League semi-final between AC Milan and Inter Milan on Wednesday, Henry was crowned 'King for a day' and given a crown and red robe.

Following his joke coronation, Titi laid down the laws for his new kingdom.

End time-wasting

Henry has devised a way to stop teams from time-wasting.

"When a team refuses to play - time-wasting, kicking the ball out - the referee can give a free-kick just like in rugby 25 yards away from goal, you can put the ball wherever you want," said the 45-year-old.

"Just play football, that's my rule."

Goals, goals, goals

Perhaps unsurprisingly given Henry's love of goals, the former striker believes teams that score three goals in a game should receive an extra point, regardless of the result.

That would mean that Leicester would have earned a point from their recent 5-3 loss to Fulham.

Henry clarified that if a team scores six, then they would receive two bonus points.

Such a rule, if implemented in the current season, would give table-toppers Manchester City 20 extra points.

Man City have scored three or more goals in 19 league games this season. (
Alamy)

Referee dialogue

Henry would address one of the biggest gripes of the modern game: the lack of transparency regarding refereeing decisions.

"Referees have to come after the game and talk to the press, please, and wear a mic also," he said.

"I want to hear what you say because they [referees] are not that polite sometimes, I wasn't also at times.

"Please can you explain your mistakes or how great you were, we want to tell you how great you were sometimes or how bad you are like people used to tell us."

When asked if such an arrangement would give him greater respect for officials, Henry said:

"Yes because I can understand someone explaining, 'This is what I saw - I made a mistake.' You move on usually.

"What used to bother me is when there was no explanation, they would just go and hide."

Try before you buy

The former Arsenal man believes that sporting directors who oversee transfers need to do their due diligence.

"You don't buy a house without visiting it. You go in the morning, you go at night, you hear the noise," he said.

"I've seen so many players arrive at places without anyone knowing if they could adapt at the place.

"Do you know what he's about? Do you know his background?"

Temporary substitutions

Finally, to prevent teams from going down to 10 players when someone requires treatment, Henry would introduce temporary injury substitutes.

This idea was actually proposed for the Premier League but was blocked by lawmakers IFAB.

Featured Image Credit: CBS/PA

Topics: Erling Haaland, Manchester City, Thierry Henry, Premier League, Champions League, Football