Football: is it becoming a non-contact sport?

Fans that have grown up with the likes of Roy Keane and Stuart Pearce flying into challenges you may believe that it is ridiculous. Although with the obvious change in style of play within the English game, is this leading to a non-contact sport?

When assessing the statistics it certainly indicates that this is where we could be heading.

Over a 10 year period the number of tackles completed per game has decreased around 26%, from 46.2 per game to 33.7 per game. Although I had predicted a reduction I didn't believe it would be on this scale. A change of this significance is having an obvious impact on the game we all love watching.

This has been heavily impacted by a 2009 FIFA initiative to 'ban the slide tackle'. This change was prompted by the vast amount of injuries players were picking up per game. With reported average of nearly 20 injuries per game, ranging from niggles to those that keep players sidelined for an indefinite amount of time. Although player safety is paramount, should it be to the extent that it affects the way we want to see the game played?

On top of this possession based playing styles implemented by the likes of Pep Guardiola and Eddie Howe, has also reduced the need for slide tackles and drastically increased the amount of interceptions. This has resulted in near technical perfection performances, which should be great? right?

However, this seems to have sanitized the game at the top level. It often feels like an entertainment show, rather than a football match with the lack of passion on show. I believe the reducing levels of contact within the game have heavily influenced this. Ask yourself when was the last time you watched a truly great game of premier league football, for me I'm struggling to recall one. But I bet you can recall that game where the opposition spent most of the time throwing themselves on the ground trying to avoid contact.

Although at the moment we are some way short of a non-contact sport, but with the number of tackles per game reducing by over a quarter in last ten years, and no sign of this slowing down. What will the game that we all love look like? That is a question we don't currently have the answers too. However the statistics suggest that it may not include tackling of any kind. This for me would be a travesty for football, as there is nothing like a proper sliding tackle to raise the roof in any game. I believe governing bodies need to remember that this is a contact sport and it is what the fans want to see. Or is it? Please comment below, as I would love to hear what you all think.