KUALA LUMPUR: As Fifa consider changing the rules of football with a pilot project in the Future of Football Cup in Europe recently, the FA of Malaysia will play a waiitng game.
There may be five fundamental changes, including shortening the game to 60 minutes.
FAM secretary general Stuart Ramalingam said: "We will look at Fifa's findings and hear them out."
The world body is looking at dividing the game into two 30-minute periods, replace throw-ins with kick-ins, unlimited substitutions, five-minute suspension for yellow cards and stopping the clock when the ball goes out of play.
Football Coaches Association of Malaysia president B. Satiananthan, however, told Timesport on Sunday that this would "take football away from football."
He said the only rule change by Fifa in the past that he thought was good was the goal kick rule.
Implemented in 2019 with further tweaks last year, the goal kick rule states that the ball must be stationary, and is kicked from any point within the goal area by a player of the defending team. When the ball is in play, it is kicked and clearly moved while opponents must be outside the penalty area until the ball is in play.
"Drastic changes could see football becoming robotic. Things like rolling substitutions for futsal is good, but not for football," said Satiananthan.
"The field is much bigger (for football). It's more complicated, it doesn't give coaches time, and players will need to adjust to it. And there can't be too many substitutions because it affects the rhythm of the game."
Following the Future of Football Cup, many coaches and players agree to shortening the game due to the high intensity of modern football. However, many are against kick-ins replacing throw-ins.
The five-minute suspension for yellow cards was also vigorously debated, as in modern football, it is easier to get booked. It's similar to rugby where a "sin-binned" player sits out the game for 10 minutes.