Prayers up for Taiwo Awoniyi

[The Gump]

Awoniyi in an induced coma following his injury at the weekend. Let's all hope he pulls through.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/cn0g8qyjywjo

It's long been talked about that the directive to let the passage of play complete before flagging offside would lead to an injury. Now it has, there should be a proper debate as to whether to continue as currently. As everyone has said, it's not Sian Massey's fault whatsoever, and whilst changing the directive will no doubt lead to some offsides that weren't, now that a serious injury has happened I personally feel player safety should be the overriding factor and the directive should be changed.

https://www.skysports.com/football/...ncident-highlights-a-need-for-change-in-rules

 

[JoetheRef]

I absolutely agree. For me that one was so clearly offside they should be able to flag if they're 100% sure. I appreciate you'll get the very rare occurrence of an incorrect call but for offsides that everyone can see is offside, I agree they should be allowed to flag.

 

[es1]

this obviously should have been flagged and has unfortunately (but predictably) led to a significant injury that could have been avoided.

PGMOL and the clubs need to come together and work out how they want the game to be officiated in these instances otherwise this will happen again

 

[DavidObs]

this obviously should have been flagged and has unfortunately (but predictably) led to a significant injury that could have been avoided.

PGMOL and the clubs need to come together and work out how they want the game to be officiated in these instances otherwise this will happen again

Fair point.

 

[The Gump]

this obviously should have been flagged and has unfortunately (but predictably) led to a significant injury that could have been avoided.

PGMOL and the clubs need to come together and work out how they want the game to be officiated in these instances otherwise this will happen again

Agreed - if I was PFA I'd want the flag.

The downside of changing the directive is that it will create another opportunity for officials to be criticised because it will almost certainly lead to the flag going up incorrectly, even if it's only a rarity.

It's easy to say to LMA and PFA "you asked for this (if they do) so don't complain" but that will likely fall on deaf ears.

Even so, I'd change the directive and put player safety first.

 

[QuaverRef]

controversial opinion from me - we don’t need to see change as a result of this.

This type of injury can happen at any time, it just so happens it came from a delayed flag. There’s been minimal serious injuries since this was brought in 5 years ago and there doesn’t need to be an overreaction to this one and let’s be honest, if they take this away, fans/pundits/commentators will all complain the moment that first flag goes up for a tight offside which is onside.

 

[es1]

controversial opinion from me - we don’t need to see change as a result of this.

This type of injury can happen at any time, it just so happens it came from a delayed flag. There’s been minimal serious injuries since this was brought in 5 years ago and there doesn’t need to be an overreaction to this one and let’s be honest, if they take this away, fans/pundits/commentators will all complain the moment that first flag goes up for a tight offside which is onside.

but, it happened from a delayed flag from an incredibly clear offside

had it been touch and go i'd agree, but it's miles off. there was surely no question or doubt in her mind

 

[The Gump]

This type of injury can happen at any time, it just so happens it came from a delayed flag. There’s been minimal serious injuries since this was brought in 5 years ago and there doesn’t need to be an overreaction to this one and let’s be honest, if they take this away, fans/pundits/commentators will all complain the moment that first flag goes up for a tight offside which is onside.

Of course they’ll complain but that shouldn’t be a reason to keep the status quo. It’s not the first injury, it won’t be the last, and whilst of course you are correct this sort of injury could happen in normal, open play, it didn’t.

I’m all for being wary of unintended consequences but this injury could have been avoided and should be in future.

 

[Paul_10]

but, it happened from a delayed flag from an incredibly clear offside

had it been touch and go i'd agree, but it's miles off. there was surely no question or doubt in her mind

Or maybe there was otherwise she would flag right away if they are 100% sure.

I do agree I don't think their should be an over reaction to it but I do think assistants should flag more when it does look obvious but the fear of getting it wrong probably weighs on many assistants minds so play it safe and only put it up after the end of the attack.

 

[JamesL]

Whatever you do it's not a 100% avoidable situation.

Just look at the offside decision in the Leyton Orient game...

There is a world where players do have to take some responsibility and risk assess when making, or not making challenges and not just point at the referees.

I will caveat that I have not seen a clip and most importantly wish the player a speedy recovery.

 

[es1]

Or maybe there was otherwise she would flag right away if they are 100% sure.

I do agree I don't think their should be an over reaction to it but I do think assistants should flag more when it does look obvious but the fear of getting it wrong probably weighs on many assistants minds so play it safe and only put it up after the end of the attack.

Come on, this one is such a clear offside, no reasonably qualified official Will have doubt

 

[RustyRef]

Chris Foy was interviewed earlier and he said that the expectation was that PGMOL, IFA, IFAB would all expect the flag to stay down for this scenario.

The officials can't really win. People will say now that they want early flags off the back of this incident, but the very second an early flag leads to an incorrectly disallowed goal there will be a pile onto the officials involved and any previous demands for an early flag will be conveniently forgotten.

 

[Gabriel]

Correct me if I am wrong, but I thought the guidance with flagging immediately when obvious only applied if there was no clear goalscoring opportunity (like there was here), so therefore meaning the delayed flag was correct? I may be wrong but that was my understanding.

 

[QuaverRef]

Of course they’ll complain but that shouldn’t be a reason to keep the status quo. It’s not the first injury, it won’t be the last, and whilst of course you are correct this sort of injury could happen in normal, open play, it didn’t.

I’m all for being wary of unintended consequences but this injury could have been avoided and should be in future.

So do we also stop added time as that’s more opportunity to get injured? This is an overreaction for one injury. Call me ridiculous but maybe the FA should review the fact we’ve got footballers running at 2 big pieces of metal on the pitch rather than a late offside flag if we’re concerned about this injury ….

 

[Runner Ref]

So do we also stop added time as that’s more opportunity to get injured? This is an overreaction for one injury. Call me ridiculous but maybe the FA should review the fact we’ve got footballers running at 2 big pieces of metal on the pitch rather than a late offside flag if we’re concerned about this injury ….

Agreed. Jumpers for goalposts.

 

[Runner Ref]

Being serious, this is something that was never really an issue before VAR. 99% of the time, AR flags for offside in this situation. Referee stops play, IDFK, and on we go.

But with the desire to make an imperfect game perfect, this is a product of that. AR's must pull their hair out with current guidance. Especially with semi-automated offsides, it practically renders them useless.

Bin off the current iteration of VAR. If you want video replays, give the clubs X amount if challenges a game. Other than that, let the officials do their jobs.

Of course this incident could still of happened if VAR wasn't in place, but I'd say it's 99% certain it wouldn't have.

 

[The Gump]

Whatever you do it's not a 100% avoidable situation.

Just look at the offside decision in the Leyton Orient game...

There is a world where players do have to take some responsibility and risk assess when making, or not making challenges and not just point at the referees.

I will caveat that I have not seen a clip and most importantly wish the player a speedy recovery.

I did include a link to the clip James.

 

[GraemeS]

Or the AR makes an incorrect decision, allows play to continue and the player hits the post anyway.

The real scandal here is actually that he was forced to keep playing after impacting the post, despite being almost unable to run. Seconds matter in applying emergency medical treatment, but Forest had used all their subs, so chose to try and keep him on the pitch for 10 minutes rather than carrying out a proper assessment in the treatment room. He eventually couldn't continue and they finished a man down, but they would have kept him on if able.

His team chose to put him in greater danger because it was preferred to keep him on the pitch and delay assessment rather than display appropriate caution and take him off. Maybe that should be queried rather than just defaulting to blaming officials?

 

[The Gump]

So do we also stop added time as that’s more opportunity to get injured?

That's a fatuous comparison.

 

[QuaverRef]

That's a fatuous comparison.

My whole post was tongue in cheek. My overriding point is we’ve got a striker who’s ended up in a coma and the focus is a delayed flag. If that striker is onside the outcome is the same because he’s smashed into a metal post full pace and the medical team allowed him to continue. This could have happened at any point in any game at any level, the delayed flag is an unfortunate coincidence from a referee perspective