Premier League fans vote for major rule changes they would make including VAR scrapped and offsides gone
FOOTBALL fans revealed what they would change about the beautiful game – including bigger goals, an all-star match and fans live voting for substitutions.
And scrapping VAR was not the No1 priority – with better scheduling and travel support for away games among the top picks.
A poll of 2,000 adults who attend football matches found 54 per cent think their away-day experience could be improved as fans bemoan inconvenient kick-off times and not being able to drink at their seats.
One in four fans felt that better scheduling of away games should become a key focus for rulemakers.
Two-thirds (67 per cent) reported increasingly feeling like an ‘afterthought’ from football’s authorities, with trouble tracking down tickets also among the reasons even the most loyal football fans miss out on attending games.
But the most in-demand change was to introduce a salary cap for all teams.
The research was commissioned by UK shot brand, Fireball, which whisked away four Salford City fans with a thrilling helicopter ride to and from their team’s recent match against Newport County.
Ex-England star and club co-owner Paul Scholes also surprised the supporters as they headed off on the 400-mile round trip to South Wales.
He said: “We wanted to show fans that we massively value their support both home and away, and want to make the game day experience as fun and exhilarating for them as possible.
“We’re already known for offering subsidised away travel, something which this research shows football fans clearly care about.”
FOOTBALL FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALS
Access to safe standing within football grounds emerged as one of the top three changes that fans want.
Meanwhile, 19 per cent think managers should be able to challenge refereeing decisions.
And more than a tenth (12 per cent) would be happy to see an ‘All-Star’ game, made of two sides featuring the league’s best players.
Among the more bizarre responses to what changes fans would like to see in the game were adding half-time musical performances (ten per cent) and half-time cheerleader displays as standard (13 per cent).
There were even suggestions of live tweets and memes displayed around the pitch and binning offside altogether as well as fancy dress-themed matches and even the chance for regular punters to take to the field.
The typical respondent who took part in the study by OnePoll.com stated they watch as many as 11 games live each year, with 70 per cent believing it is important for football rules to adapt and evolve in line with modern technology and play styles.
Top 20 changes football fans want
- Introduce a salary cap for all teams
- Greater travel support from clubs in getting to away games
- Bring back/increase the number of safe standing terraces in stadiums
- Better scheduling of away games
- Banning VAR
- Allow managers to challenge refereeing decisions
- Ban foreign ownership of clubs
- Letting fans drink alcohol at their seats in stadium
- Half-time cheerleader shows
- Create an All-Star game with the league’s best players
- Digital billboards showing funny football memes and live tweets mid-game
- Getting rid of offsides so there are more goals
- The chance for regular people in the crowd to get brought onto the pitch
- Superbowl-style half-time musical performances
- Post-match fireworks
- Letting fans decide substitutions by live-voting
- Introduce pre-game penalty shootouts to break potential ties
- Increase goal sizes to encourage more goals
- Introduce multi-ball for the last ten minutes of the game
- Fancy-dress themed matches
Lorenzo Farronato, spokesperson for Fireball Whisky, said: “Our research has shown that the match-going experience isn’t always a party, especially for away games that often involve long journeys, late nights and high costs.
“We think game day – as well as all other experiences shared amongst friends – should be fun and that fans should always come first.
“Football is a dynamic and evolving sport, and fans are always seeking ways to make the game even more exciting.
“We brought the heat to midweek for Salford fans, we’ll continue to infuse more fun and mischief into the moments they share with us.”