Pele calls for FIFA to break down the walls

Pele has called on world governing body FIFA to ban defending teams setting up walls after conceding free-kicks close to the box.

The Brazil World Cup legend believes it is unfair for sides to be allowed to get so many players behind the ball when a striker may have been denied a clearer goalscoring chance.

Pele, widely recognised as the game’s greatest player, scored more than 1,000 goals in a glittering career that included three World Cup wins.

The 67-year-old said: “You can debate changing the rules of football.

“There is one rule I have debated at FIFA. As a forward, the wall – I don’t know why they have not banned the wall from the game.

“The forward gets the ball from the midfield, dribbles for one-two or passes three or four players but when you get close to the goal, the last defender makes a foul.