Problem is what can referees do about it? They can't prove that they aren't really injured, and if they didn't allow treatment and it turned out it was genuine they'd be thrown to the wolves. There were a couple at the weekend: Dominguez of Forest having to be carried off because he seemingly couldn't walk, then as soon as they got to the touchline they put him down and he walked unaided to a seat in the dug out. Then Onana yesterday, Andy Madley knew fell well there was nothing wrong with him but what could he do?football enables behaviour like this by allowing players to feign injury with the knowledge the game will be stopped.
Not for the refs. Ifab needs to sort it. The game is far too frequently stopped for 'injured' players who aren't injured. Usually they go down for tactics reasons (to get a rest or to actually allow tactical instructions).Problem is what can referees do about it? They can't prove that they aren't really injured, and if they didn't allow treatment and it turned out it was genuine they'd be thrown to the wolves. There were a couple at the weekend: Dominguez of Forest having to be carried off because he seemingly couldn't walk, then as soon as they got to the touchline they put him down and he walked unaided to a seat in the dug out. Then Onana yesterday, Andy Madley knew fell well there was nothing wrong with him but what could he do?
Similar last week where Bruno Fernandes went down in supposed agony on the edge of the Fulham penalty area, only to then spring back up once he realised the ball was coming to him. Far from criticise him, his manager came out after and said he had done nothing wrong.
We definitely need to do something about feigning injury that takes it out of the referees hand.Not for the refs. Ifab needs to sort it. The game is far too frequently stopped for 'injured' players who aren't injured. Usually they go down for tactics reasons (to get a rest or to actually allow tactical instructions).
Thoughts...
Max 2 players can receive tactical instructions at a break play?
Allow trainers on in play in certain circumstances?
If play is stopped the player must go off the pitch for 30 seconds?
We definitely need to do something about feigning injury that takes it out of the referees hand.
We have the caveat that a player can remain on field of play if an offender is cautioned which would mean that those injured/hurt after a reckless or excessive challenge aren't unfairly penalised.
I think it needs to be a proper deterrent. Hold your head to get the game stopped you have to go off for 5 minutes to be checked over, something like that.
Like the first one, but very difficult to police. Unless you stopped them from going over to get a drink I can't see how a 4th official could control 2 technical areas and what instructions were being given.Not for the refs. Ifab needs to sort it. The game is far too frequently stopped for 'injured' players who aren't injured. Usually they go down for tactics reasons (to get a rest or to actually allow tactical instructions).
Thoughts...
Max 2 players can receive tactical instructions at a break play?
Allow trainers on in play in certain circumstances?
If play is stopped the player must go off the pitch for 30 seconds?
All valid thoughts.Like the first one, but very difficult to police. Unless you stopped them from going over to get a drink I can't see how a 4th official could control 2 technical areas and what instructions were being given.
Allowing physios on during play works in rugby, but the movement around the pitch is much slower and obvious. Football isn't like that it can be from one part of the pitch to the opposite corner in just a few seconds. Think it would be too dangerous.
PGMOL have obviously unofficially created the 30 second rule, be interested to see whether it is used in other leagues and incorporated into law. It is certainly an incentive to not go down unnecessarily, but it has also unfairly penalised teams who have had to defend with a player less even though the player was very clearly injured.
Don't think there is an easy answer, other than adding the time on.
Yes, if their airwaves were blocked, and we've seen that several times in football, that extra 60 seconds could be very serious. I'm no medical expert, but I'd guess the terrible head injuries received by the likes of Petr Cech, Ryan Mason and Raul Jimenez could have been much worse if not dealt with promptly.Are there any head injuries (short of ones that would be incredibly obvious with blood everywhere) where a matter of an extra 60 seconds between player going down and getting treatment can make a big difference?
I'm far from a medical expert, but I wouldn't imagine that a player who has taken a big bump on the head and is concussed, is going to have his life saved by receiving treatment a minute quicker than if we wait for a more natural break in play or a ball in a defensive area?
As I said, I'm no expert so I could very well be wrong, don't come at me if I am!
If a player is knocked out, that 60 seconds could be the difference in them swallowing their tongue.Are there any head injuries (short of ones that would be incredibly obvious with blood everywhere) where a matter of an extra 60 seconds between player going down and getting treatment can make a big difference?
I'm far from a medical expert, but I wouldn't imagine that a player who has taken a big bump on the head and is concussed, is going to have his life saved by receiving treatment a minute quicker than if we wait for a more natural break in play or a ball in a defensive area?
As I said, I'm no expert so I could very well be wrong, don't come at me if I am!
Problem is for head injuries they don't really roll around, they lay still holding their heads. It tends to be be for non-head injuries that they roll around holding various different parts of their bodies.I knew that with regards to if they’re knocked out or unconscious, I’m on about situations where a player is rolling around holding his head.
Would it still be the same?
(Obviously I always treat it seriously and stop the game, I’m just playing devils advocate)
This is no contest. Yes, players cheat, feign injury, waste time. We could bring in all kinds of stricter Laws to prevent this, but they carry the danger of letting a serious head injury go unchecked. So let's weigh up the alternatives:
A Present Laws: injuries get treated but cheating is possible.
B Stricter Laws: cheating cut down; a player might die.
Football is only a game. No contest.
think that's a bit of a stretch
the laws need changing to add disincentives to go down feigning injury.
empower refs to stop play as they currently do, but once they do, the player in question goes off for minimum 30 seconds for off field assessment? there's many things along those lines which can be implemented without endangering anyone any more than currently
Be interested to see if the 30 second rule brought in by PGMOL has made any difference to the number of situations where players have received treatment. I don't have any kind of evidence but it doesn't appear to me that it has made much of a difference.think that's a bit of a stretch
the laws need changing to add disincentives to go down feigning injury.
empower refs to stop play as they currently do, but once they do, the player in question goes off for minimum 30 seconds for off field assessment? there's many things along those lines which can be implemented without endangering anyone any more than currently
Worth baring in mind the minor difference in wording. The 30 second rule brought in by PGMOL is that if the player receives treatment they must leave for 30 seconds, where as a rule that if play is stopped for an injury to said player they must leave for 30 seconds would stop a player feigning injury to get game stopped, then getting up and being ok (as happened in the Liverpool v Forest game I believe?!)Be interested to see if the 30 second rule brought in by PGMOL has made any difference to the number of situations where players have received treatment. I don't have any kind of evidence but it doesn't appear to me that it has made much of a difference.