The new play acting

mrb85 · November 30, 2015

It was inevitable I suppose. Refs are now instructed to immediately stop the game if someone looks like they've gone down with a head injury. So cue centre backs and goalkeepers now going down clutching their heads whenever their defence is under pressure. The game is stopped immediately for a good 2 or 3 minutes, so job done, pressure is removed, the defending team can gets its act together again, the attacking team loses its momentum.

So phoney but how's it to be stopped? No ref is going to take the risk of ignoring the 'injured' player. Perhaps if any player goes down with a head injury other than a simple cut that player must be kept off the pitch for 5 minutes. But then again, would this encourage the player who has really copped it to jump to his feet for fear of having to leave the field of play. It's a tough one but it should start being discussed now because I'm seeing it all the time recently. Pure cheating, but very effective.

toffeejack · November 30, 2015

in rugby now, they have to carry out thorough head checks which takes a couple of minutes. If this is implemented off the pitch then they'd probably be less inclined to do it. As with all forms of cheating, retrospective action is the way to go.

ijjysmith · November 30, 2015

Can't be stopped. Not worth the risk.

dholliday · November 30, 2015

good thread, mr b...agree it's gonna be a problem. The ref should use his common sense and stop play whenver he sees fit rather than having a blanket rule as that can make the game very stop-start.

Our game of football, world-wide, has an incredibly low ratio of serious head injuries when compared to how many play the game every week (and considering the innate risk of such injuries). It's like they just want to take all the risk away from sport. See also USA banning kids from heading.

Dithering Dougie · November 30, 2015

The phyios and medical team shouldn't need the permission of the ref and be free to enter onto the pitch at any time while the game is still in progress if someone goes down injured. If a stretcher is called for and the player needs to leave the pitch it should then be stopped and the player should have to take a time out for an assessment to prove he's okay to an independent doctor while the match carries on.

davek · November 30, 2015

Dithering Dougie said:
The phyios and medical team shouldn't need the permission of the ref and be free to enter onto the pitch at any time while the game is still in progress if someone goes down injured. If a stretcher is called for and the player needs to leave the pitch it should then be stopped and the player should have to take a time out for an assessment to prove he's okay to an independent doctor while the match carries on.

I agree with this. The egg chasers have it right when they have the medics on the pitch and the play continues. It'd soon sort out the wheat from the chaff: actually injured v time wasters-wise.

Dithering Dougie · November 30, 2015

davek said:
I agree with this. The egg chasers have it right when they have the medics on the pitch and the play continues. It'd soon sort out the wheat from the chaff: actually injured v time wasters-wise.

It's the most obvious and safest way to keep the game flowing and the players health paramount.

Seamus Colemole · November 30, 2015

Ok so give some examples of players going down claiming head injuries when replays have shown there was no contact?

Minimeister · November 30, 2015

Seamus Colemole said:
Ok so give some examples of players going down claiming head injuries when replays have shown there was no contact?

Here we go, it doesn't happen. Move on everybody.

chicoazul · November 30, 2015

Seamus Colemole said:
Ok so give some examples of players going down claiming head injuries when replays have shown there was no contact?

OK lads you were wrong ok? Produce gifs in the next ten minutes or it just didn't happen.

Shame on you. /thread.

TheFinnFan · November 30, 2015

is this really a problem? has there been many cases after this intruction? anyways..puts more pressure on refs. think few big bold decisions by refs might stop the acting. good ref can see the act, in certain occasions atleast. bold card from delaying the game might give the signal (if this is starting to look like they really use this possibility , wich i doubt)

Seamus Colemole · November 30, 2015

Just one incident from one game, should be easy if it happens "all the time"?

Titus Bramble · November 30, 2015

I like the idea of a physio coming on with the game continuing while the player receives treatment. But what if a defender gets a knock and goes down in the middle of the box? If the game continues you surely can't have a physio and injured player on the penalty spot while crosses and shots are coming in. They'd get Hit by the ball/get trampled and jumped on etc. It would only work in the middle third of the pitch where they're less likely to get in the way.