MILAN: Brazilian soccer legend Pele said recently he was in favor of International Football Federation (FIFA) plans to enlarge goals and also suggested that the goalkeeper’s area should be smaller.
A FIFA official said last month the federation was considering making goals wider and higher to compensate for the growth in the average human body size since the dimensions were fixed in 1866.
Pele told the Milan based sports daily Gazetta Dello Sport that having larger goals would be a positive step in making the game more attractive.
He also said FIFA should consider making the area in which the goalkeeper was allowed to use his hands smaller.
“It could be in line with the penalty spot”, he said.
Pele suggested other rule changes, including giving teams the choice of a throwing or a free kick when the ball went out of play.
He proposed that defensive wal1s should not be allowed for indirect free kicks inside the penalty area or direct free kicks awarded for a professional foul.
Article extracted from this publication >> October 26, 1990
