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 A FIFA expert panel is proposing that referees should be more lenient with players who foul in the penalty area.

Franz Beckenbauer, head of the FIFA Task Force Football 2014, believes there should be 'a clear, understandable rule' about when players are actively or passively offside. The FIFA expert panel says a so-called “triple punishment” of penalty, red card and suspension is too severe.

FIFA will present a new draft to its rules-making panel, which meets in March. FIFA created the task force to suggest ways of improving soccer before the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

"A penalty is enough if it is a simple foul or a tackle where you try to get the ball but you are a second late," said Beckenbauer, a World Cup-winning player and coach with West Germany. "If you have a violent foul, if it would have been a red card anywhere on the field, then it's a penalty and a red card."

Red cards would still be given for handball offenses that stop a certain goal, under the 20-member panel's proposal.