Blatter orders review of rules

FIFA president Sepp Blatter is considering tampering with the beautiful game once again.

Blatter, who regularly raises eyebrows with his controversial ideas, has ordered a task force to look into football's points system.
The Task Force Football 2014 will review the laws of the game and propose ways to make it more attractive before the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

Blatter, 74, said: "Its objective is to assess tournaments and the way in which the game is organised.

"Let me give you a few examples. At the moment three points are awarded for a win and one for a draw, which is something we can discuss and decide whether it's a good thing or not.

"Is extra-time the only option we have when a game ends in a draw? And if we stick with extra-time, how should we end games?

"Is it worth taking another look at the golden goal? Some people like it, some people don't."

The task force is made up of football administrators, players and ex-players, referees and medical experts.

It was set up in the wake of last year's World Cup finals in South Africa, where there was criticism about the quality of the football on display.
Blatter also claims there are too many domestic matches for clubs in countries such as England and Spain.

He added: "The other big issue is the calendar. In my view, and this is something on which UEFA president Michel Platini agrees, domestic championships are too long because there are too many teams and too many matches.

"Teams in leagues with 20 clubs play 38 games, on top of which they also have national cup competitions and league cups, etc.

"This also creates a conflict of interest between national teams and clubs, some of whom complain that their players come back tired or injured.

"That's not the fault of the international calendar, however, and it's a subject that ought to be discussed."