THIERRY HENRY revealed his five new rules to revolutionise football – including extra points for goals.
The Arsenal legend knows a thing or two about the beautiful game having scored 417 career goals, including a club-record 228 for the Gunners.
He also won the World Cup, Euros and Champions League and was part of the Premier League Invincibles in 2003-04.
But now he has turned to coaching and punditry and is a regular on CBS Sports’ Champions League coverage.
And on Wednesday night, he revealed his five-step plan to improve the global game.
Henry was made ‘King for a day’ by CBS host Kate Abdo, and was given a crown and a red robe for the joke coronation.
READ MORE ON ARSENAL
Abdo said: “As most of you know we have just had a three-day coronation weekend here in Great Britain.
“But if you thought the ancient rituals and gilded pageantry was done, you would be wrong.
“He already has a statue outside The Emirates. And now Thierry Henry gets the biggest honour of them all… he is our king for a day.”
Firstly, Henry wants to get rid of the dark arts of time-wasting – as Newcastle and Brentford have mastered this season.
Most read in Champions League
FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALS – BEST NEW CUSTOMER OFFERS
The Frenchman said: “When a team refuses to play – time-wasting, kicking the ball out – the referee can give a free-kick just like in rugby 25 yards away from goal, you can put the ball wherever you want.
“Just play football, that’s my rule.”
The second rule sees teams who score three goals in a game get an extra point, regardless of the result.
For example, Fulham would have got four points and Leicester one for the Cottagers’ 5-3 win on Monday.
Fellow pundit Jamie Carragher asked what happens if a team scores seven – no doubt in reference to Liverpool’s thumping victory over Manchester United this season – to which Henry confirmed they goal-hungry side get two extra points.
Thirdly, Henry said: “This is a big one for me.
“Referees have to come after the game and talk to the press, please, and wear a mic also.
“I want to hear what you say because they are not that polite sometimes, I wasn’t also at times.
“Please can you explain your mistakes or how great you were, we want to tell you how great you were sometimes or how bad you are like people used to tell us.”
This suggestion got a resounding “yes” of support from Carragher and Micah Richards, especially after recent success in France.
You don’t buy a house without visiting it
Thierry Henry on signing players
Carra asked: “Would you have more respect for them then?”
Henry replied: “Yes because I can understand someone explaining, ‘This is what I saw – I made a mistake.’ You move on usually.
“What used to bother me is when there was no explanation, they would just go and hide.”
Henry’s fourth role would see sporting directors or whoever overseas transfers do their due diligence.
He said: “You don’t buy a house without visiting it. You go in the morning, you go at night, you hear the noise.
“I’ve seen so many players arrive at places without anyone knowing if they could adapt at the place.
“Do you know what he’s about? Do you know his background?”
Carragher chipped in: “What was the sporting director like at Monaco?” in a cheeky quip at Henry’s failed 20-match spell as manager.
Henry quickly moved on to his fifth and final rule to introduce temporary injury substitutes to prevent teams going down to ten players when someone needs treatment or doctors rushing assessments.
This idea was proposed for the Premier League but was blocked by lawmakers Ifab which prompted a furious reaction from the PFA.
The former forward then added a bonus legislation, allowing presenter Kate Abdo to bring a radiator with her to the studio “because she’s always cold”.
And his suggestions got plenty of love on social media.
One said: “That ref post-match conference looks a MUST thing to have.”
Another wrote: “Interesting rules . . . particularly about the ref having a mic and doing a presser, very much needed.”
Read More on The Sun
A third added: “Titi take three rules from rugby I like it.”
And a final user simply commented: “Titi the king.”
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
