NEW INVENTION TO FORCE DEFENSIVE WALLS TO KEEP THE DISTANCE

A Brazilian football fan (Heine Allemagne) has invented a simple device to stop defensive walls shuffling nearer and nearer the ball and not keeping their ten-metre distance, which the law stipulates. The invention is based on an aerosol can which sprays a foam. The idea is that the referees carry a small can of this with them, or somebody brings it to them, whenever a defensive wall is to be formed (in situations of free kicks near the penalty area). The foam is then sprayed in a line, marking the minimum distance, which the defenders cannot cross. The invention is being examined by the Brazilian Football Confederation and by FIFA.

Tim Bancroft-Hinchey Lissabon