Norwegian FA Propose ‘Extra Player’ Rule To Even Up One-Sided Thrashings, Henning Berg Is On Board!

Chris Wright

30th, October 2012

8 Comments

By Chris Wright

“Actually guys, this sounds a bit stupid”

The laws of the game are ever evolving, hence the fact that absolutely no-one knows what the soddin’ offside law actually is anymore, but the Norwegian FA – in their role as football’s global envelope pushers – are keen to introduce a radical new rule at youth level to help even out heavily one-sided tonkings in the interest of fairness.

The proposed law will see teams that fall 4-0 behind allowed to bring on an extra player, a twelfth man, to help turn the tide and is being backed by none other than former Blackburn, Manchester United and Norway centre-half Henning Berg who is currently one of the runners and riders in the frame for the managerial vacancy at Ewood.

“It’s a good rule that will lead to more even matches,” said Berg, who was capped 100 times by Norway. “It’s no fun to lose 17-0. It’s no fun to win 17-0 either.”

However Aalesund coach, Kjetil Rekdal, who played alongside Berg at the heart of the Norwegian defence on several occasions, is altogether less enamoured with the plans.

“It can be positive to get more people active, but it can be negative if you destroy or punish those who are better,” he told the Norwegian newspaper Verdens Gang.

Not sure about the whole ‘winning 17-0 isn’t fun’ thing for starters. Pies played in several youth sides who would’ve been glad of being on the fluffy end of a hammering or two rather than the other way round.

What happens if the team with 12 men draw pull it back and go ahead? Does the extra player go off again or does he take up a floating role, change his shirt and switch to playing for the opposition? So many questions.

Well, best of luck with the proposal Henning anyway, you big Norwegian maverick you!

(Via Guardian)

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8 Comments

  1. Wesley says:

    You just went full retard…
    NEVER go full retard…

  2. Zam says:

    Like that Barca futsal game on the ‘tube, where Valdes is alternation which team he’s playing for.

  3. Batnas says:

    Surely teams winning 3-0 will just sit back to avoid opposing teams getting an extra man…

  4. Applesauce says:

    Well logically the team getting thrashed would lose the extra man in the event the goal differential became less than four.

    Stupid idea though. How about play at your skill level or use the match as a learning experience.

  5. gilbert says:

    just go back to ‘Rush Keeper’.

  6. olliegarcia says:

    i wonder if ol’ henning is having a rethink after the arsenal reading game?

  7. Karan says:

    Why not start lower placed teams with extra men, bigger goals and steroid allowances?
    That is sure to make things fair.

  8. Vegard says:

    This is a rule affecting 7-a-side and 5-a-side football only, so these will be kids up to 12 years old.

    I don’t dislike it. I played on a really good team at that age, and we didn’t really learn much by destroying our opponents. Wouldn’t mind this being tested to see how it works in practice, as I believe it may make things a bit tougher for the best sides, and encourage them to work harder.

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