2 min read
Football Insider

Radical Proposals by Napoli President to Revolutionize Football

Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis has unveiled a bold vision for the future of football, aiming to make the sport more appealing to younger audiences. From shorter matches to abolishing traditional disciplinary measures, his proposals could reshape the way we experience the beautiful game.

Serie ASSC Napoli
Radical Proposals by Napoli President to Revolutionize Football

Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis has outlined a series of radical proposals aimed at revolutionising football to ensure the sport remains attractive to younger audiences. The 76-year-old suggests that the current 90-minute format is too slow for a generation raised on video games, advocating for shorter halves and the total abolition of yellow and red cards.Speaking to The Athletic from his residence in Beverly Hills, De Laurentiis warned that football risks losing its future fanbase if it does not adapt to modern attention spans. The Napoli owner believes the sport must become more spectacular and faster-paced to compete with digital entertainment like the PlayStation. His vision includes reducing match length to 50 minutes of effective playing time and introducing significant changes to the offside rule to encourage more goalscoring opportunities.The Italian film producer expressed particular frustration with the 15-minute half-time interval, suggesting that young viewers are likely to abandon broadcasts for other activities during the break. He argues that the current pace of televised matches fails to engage children who are accustomed to the rapid speed of virtual football.Warning of a potential decline in global interest, De Laurentiis stated: “Soccer will lose the younger generation. The matches are too long. Imagine the stupidity! You think my grandchild of six years old, who knows everything (about football) because he plays with the PlayStation… he will escape…  and you think you will recoup him after 15 minutes? Never! Because he goes in his room. He starts to play FIFA.”Beyond timing, De Laurentiis proposed replacing traditional yellow and red cards with a "sin-bin" system to increase the immediate sporting consequences for foul play. He believes this would prevent players from deliberately taking tactical fouls that disrupt the flow of the game without sufficient in-match punishment.He added: “Number one: I will reduce from 45 minutes each (half) to 25 minutes. But also you cannot stay down on the field and play around like an actor! 'AGHHHH!' he groans as if he's in pain. NO - you will go OUT! What I will do also - I will never use a red card and a yellow card. I would say ‘YOU - get out for five minutes (for a yellow card)!’ And ‘YOU - get out for 20 minutes for a red card!'"Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reportingNapoli currently sit second in Serie A with 66 points from 32 matches, trailing leaders Inter by nine points as the season enters its final stretch. While the focus remains on closing that gap, the club faces a potential period of transition with Antonio Conte entering the final year of his deal amid intensifying links to the Italian national team. The Partenopei have a demanding run-in to maintain their domestic standing, with upcoming fixtures against Lazio and Cremonese in April, followed by clashes with Como, Bologna, Pisa, and Udinese in May.

1

Embracing Change for a New Generation

Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis is not one to shy away from controversy, as he lays out a series of radical proposals to modernize football. His concern for the sport losing touch with the younger generation is evident in his call for shorter match durations, citing the influence of video games on modern attention spans.

2

A Faster, More Spectacular Game

De Laurentiis's vision includes cutting match lengths to 50 minutes of active play, a significant departure from the traditional 90-minute format. By speeding up the game and enhancing goal-scoring opportunities through changes to the offside rule, he aims to capture the excitement and pace of virtual football experiences.

3

Revolutionizing Disciplinary Measures

One of the most striking proposals is the complete elimination of yellow and red cards in favor of a 'sin-bin' system. This would introduce immediate consequences for fouls without disrupting the flow of the game with lengthy player sanctions. De Laurentiis emphasizes the need for swift, impactful punishment to maintain the integrity of the sport.

4

Challenges and Opportunities for Napoli

As Napoli continues their pursuit of the Serie A title, De Laurentiis's revolutionary ideas could shape the club's future on and off the pitch. With key fixtures on the horizon and potential changes in leadership, the Partenopei face both sporting challenges and the prospect of leading the way in embracing innovative football reforms.

Published on Apr 14, 2026