Quote Originally Posted by magpie_mania View Post
Part of the game now. Pundits on TV back the players for doing it, often with comments like, 'He had no choice'.

Still a terrible decision for 2nd yellow though.
I wish FIFA/UEFA/FA could be as nimble as the NBA at making rules changes. 'Take fouls' - no attempt to play the ball when the other team is breaking is now punished by free throws + possession, not just a foul and the other team keeps possession. So this season the 'take foul' (this is probably where the phrase 'take one for the team' came from) has been largely eliminated. And it's changed the game, it flows better and is even faster now.

Making fouling someone with a clear path to goal, or fouling without any attempt on the ball, punishable by a penalty kick and it'd be eliminated instantly, for the benefit of the sport.