What is the King's League and why has it received criticism?

The King's League is a new football competition announced by former Barcelona star Gerard Pique. It is organized by the investment company "Kosmos" owned by Pique and brings together some of the biggest former football stars and content creators, including Spanish goalkeeper Iker Casillas, and the Argentine duo of Sergio Aguero and Javier Saviola.

The King's League has special rules that are different from conventional football and resemble those in other sports such as water polo or tennis. For example, the starting kick-off is similar to that in water polo, where players race to gain possession of the ball at the center point. A penalty kick can only be taken within 5 seconds, starting from the center of the field and facing the goalkeeper. Each team is allowed to use video assistant referee (VAR) technology only once, with the option to request it again if the first instance proves correct.

There are no limits to the number of substitutions, and five players sit on the bench. Offside is determined by a stationary line located at the penalty area. A player who receives a yellow card is suspended for two minutes, while a red card results in a five-minute suspension before the player can return to the game.

The King's League is not limited to traditional football cards, as we may witness golden cards that can change the course of the game at any time. There are several privileges for the holder of such cards, such as the cancellation of a yellow card or the choice to score an additional goal.

King's League matches are played on fields that are half the size of a conventional football field. Therefore, the rules of the King's League are different from those of traditional football, and the audience can even contribute to setting some of the rules in this league.

The King's League consists of 12 teams, each led by a global football star, and made up of seven players. The registered players can reach up to 12, 10 of whom were registered earlier in December of last year.

Matches will be played every day in a knockout tournament format, with teams advancing based on a point system.

The King's League has received criticism for its unconventional rules and the involvement of former football stars who may no longer be at their best, which raises concerns about the quality of the matches.