Half the time it’s the players that are wasting time, doing simulations or simply blocking the game from continuing. The only way this gets resolved is using only playing time as a measure (as...
… games will not be burdened with inflated amounts of added time, describing the extra load on players as a “tragedy”.
Half the time it’s the players that are wasting time, doing simulations or simply blocking the game from continuing.
The only way this gets resolved is using only playing time as a measure (as done in field hockey), or punishing players more severely; either yellow card them, or introduce a new card (again as in field hockey) that gives players a time penalty (2-5 minutes or so). This can greatly improve fair play and makes watching the game better too.
I don't find this part very clear (emphasis added): Is it the new directive that has driven up match times? I'd much rather watch a tight ~90-minute football match than a flabby 100+ affair, but I...
I don't find this part very clear (emphasis added):
Additional time played at the end of each half has swelled significantly in some domestic leagues so far in 2023-24, with the Premier League among those to adopt an International Football Association Board (Ifab) directive aimed at cutting out time-wasting. It has led to match durations of well over 100 minutes becoming standard and has drawn criticism from players, Kevin De Bruyne among those to warn they are essentially being asked to play extra games.
Is it the new directive that has driven up match times?
I'd much rather watch a tight ~90-minute football match than a flabby 100+ affair, but I think it would be a shame to allow players to waste time without penalty. I don't know what the solution is, I'm not an avid football fan by any means, but surely getting players under control is fundamental to controlling match lengths.
I think "It" there refers to "Additional time", although it could mean the directive or time-wasting. Blaming additional time for 100 minute matches is technically correct, but pointless, the...
I think "It" there refers to "Additional time", although it could mean the directive or time-wasting. Blaming additional time for 100 minute matches is technically correct, but pointless, the problem is why are they adding so much time?
One thing that is ruining football for me at least is all the fake injuries. How many times do you see a player rolling on the floor for minutes like their leg is snapped in two, then hop to their feet like nothing happened when the physio comes on? They need to crack down on that because it makes matches very irritating to watch. I feel almost embarrassed for the players that they are so obviously faking this rubbish.
Currently football also does that weird thing where play stops completely while a player is "treated" (usually just sort of lies there talking to the physio and drinking sports juice), then when they "recover", they have to go off the pitch for some short amount of time, but it is always far less than the time they were down "injured". The whole thing wastes match time, is clearly gamesmanship, but refs can't really do anything in case it is a genuine injury (they aren't medical staff, after all). Imagine if the ref was like "hey, get up faker!" and the guy had knackered his knee or whatever.
Refs need new rules to discourage faking, while not risking players' health. Maybe something like a fixed, enforced treatment penalty of say "off for 5 minutes" after a player needs treatment. If the physio has to come on, the player has to go off for 5 minutes once they are finished. Not "10 seconds, at the ref's discretion" as it currently is. It might put an end to the worst shenanigans if the player knew they'd be sent off for a significant amount of time, players would have an incentive to not play act, but it wouldn't be a problem if it was an actual injury. Players could still hobble off for penalty-free treatment if they are able to, maybe other caveats for head injuries... I dunno, hey Fifa Ifab, get on it.
Half the time it’s the players that are wasting time, doing simulations or simply blocking the game from continuing.
The only way this gets resolved is using only playing time as a measure (as done in field hockey), or punishing players more severely; either yellow card them, or introduce a new card (again as in field hockey) that gives players a time penalty (2-5 minutes or so). This can greatly improve fair play and makes watching the game better too.
I don't find this part very clear (emphasis added):
Is it the new directive that has driven up match times?
I'd much rather watch a tight ~90-minute football match than a flabby 100+ affair, but I think it would be a shame to allow players to waste time without penalty. I don't know what the solution is, I'm not an avid football fan by any means, but surely getting players under control is fundamental to controlling match lengths.
I think "It" there refers to "Additional time", although it could mean the directive or time-wasting. Blaming additional time for 100 minute matches is technically correct, but pointless, the problem is why are they adding so much time?
One thing that is ruining football for me at least is all the fake injuries. How many times do you see a player rolling on the floor for minutes like their leg is snapped in two, then hop to their feet like nothing happened when the physio comes on? They need to crack down on that because it makes matches very irritating to watch. I feel almost embarrassed for the players that they are so obviously faking this rubbish.
Currently football also does that weird thing where play stops completely while a player is "treated" (usually just sort of lies there talking to the physio and drinking sports juice), then when they "recover", they have to go off the pitch for some short amount of time, but it is always far less than the time they were down "injured". The whole thing wastes match time, is clearly gamesmanship, but refs can't really do anything in case it is a genuine injury (they aren't medical staff, after all). Imagine if the ref was like "hey, get up faker!" and the guy had knackered his knee or whatever.
Refs need new rules to discourage faking, while not risking players' health. Maybe something like a fixed, enforced treatment penalty of say "off for 5 minutes" after a player needs treatment. If the physio has to come on, the player has to go off for 5 minutes once they are finished. Not "10 seconds, at the ref's discretion" as it currently is. It might put an end to the worst shenanigans if the player knew they'd be sent off for a significant amount of time, players would have an incentive to not play act, but it wouldn't be a problem if it was an actual injury. Players could still hobble off for penalty-free treatment if they are able to, maybe other caveats for head injuries... I dunno, hey
FifaIfab, get on it.