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By Nitram
In a recent article we had a debate about the amount of time lost in a match to time wasting. The argument being, there is so much time lost to freekicks, goal kicks, throw ins etc. that it is becoming a joke. More than that, it is actually a ‘rip-off’. Fundamentally the argument is, people pay a lot of money to see 90 minutes of football, but in reality only get to see a fraction of that.
On the back of that, there have been a few suggestions on how to tackle this issue, most of which are based around the idea of an independent timekeeper. There are a number of variations on this theme, but the one I like is a prominent timer in the stadium that visibly shows the time being added on as it happens.
But that is neither here nor there, what I found interesting was one comment that said “I have the answer, just leave it to hell alone, it’s been like this forever”.
It got me thinking. Never a good thing. Has it? Has it been like this forever? Well of course no, it hasn’t. As such I thought I have a look back and see just what changes have been made, especially in regards to eliminating time wasting, or keeping the game flowing, as well as a few other more general rule changes.
So, this notion that ‘it has been like this forever’ is clearly wrong, because as we will see below The Laws Of The Game have been changing and evolving since the first ball was kicked in anger back in the 1800’s. Not that I was there of course. [Nor, contrary to popular belief, was I – Tony]. And what’s more it had absolutely nothing to do with our friends across the pond, which was another accusation.
So, the first few Law changes I will mention are specifically aimed at the current debate around time wasting, or more broadly speaking, keeping the game flowing. As you will see most, though not all, revolve around the goalkeeper and goal kicks.
-Taking of a goal kick from anywhere inside the 6 yard box. Introduced in 1992. As stated at the time, this change was made in order to “eliminate one of the common timewasting tactics”
-Back pass rule. Introduced in 1997. Keeps the game flowing and makes it much faster.
-6 second rule. Introduced in 1998. This applies to ball in hand, goal kicks and any other stop in play, anywhere on the pitch. Obviously as above.
-Ball in play from a goal kick. Introduced in 2020.The ball is in play from a goal kick when it is kicked and clearly moves. It no longer has to leave the box.
So that’s four law changes that I could find, all concerning the keeper and goal kicks. All aimed at keeping the game flowing. Mind you it’s a mute point as to whether they all work as intended.
So again, this notion that ‘it’s been like this forever’ is clearly misguided. It certainly hasn’t. And not only regarding adaptions in order to nullify timewasting. There have been many others that try to make the game, safer, more attacking, fan-friendly.
On that basis, and why I was at it, I thought I’d list a few other major, and more minor, changes that I could think of. Others may bring more to mind:
- From 2 to 3 points for a win.
- Goal ‘average’ to goal ‘difference’ to decide a tie in the League Table.
- The offside rule has changed numerous times. It didn’t even exist in the early days.
- Number of substitutes.
- Spray foam for freekicks.
- Away goals counting double, then not.
- How the kick-off can be taken.
- Names on shirts.
- Advertising on shirts.
I could go on, there are hundreds, if not thousands of changes over the years. Some very major, some very minor, but changes nonetheless.
Everyone will have their own view on the rights and wrongs of a lot of these changes, but just from a personal perspective these are what I consider the biggest and indeed the most beneficial changes over the years:
- Off-side rule. Introduced in 1863, amended in 1923. Basically it stopped ‘goal-hanging’.
- Goal average to goal difference for settling a tie in the league table. Increased emphasis on offensive play. Introduced at the World Cup in 1970. 1975 in English football.
- 3 points for a win. English football league 1981. Rest of the World 1994. Again increased emphasis on offensive play, but even more so.
- Back pass rule. Introduced in the Premier League in 1997. Keeps the game flowing and makes it much faster.
They are the rules that I think had the biggest ‘positive’ impact on our game. Opinions may vary.
Interestingly a number of these (and other existing rules) remain unenforced by referees and the problems still remain. I noted yesterday that it is intended that next season refs will strictly apply penalties for failing to retreat 10m for a free kick…..a rule that was introduced years ago and strictly applied for a few weeks and then forgotten about by refs. Similarly, when was the last time you saw a keeper penalised for holding on to the ball for more than six seconds?
So much of this (as is the case with VAR), sees reasonable rules in place but which are very poorly applied by referees who choose as and when to apply them according to their own desires and biases. The option to book players for time wasting has been available for as long as I can remember. It is rarely applied (although I remember Lehman getting repeatedly booked for it), similarly foul throws are given a handful of times a season although I only ever remember Bellerin getting penalised for it….on numerous occasions.
The vast majority of rules in the game are proportionate and appropriate. The vast majority of referees, if not all, just seem unable to apply them accordingly and if they do, it is never with any degree of consistency.
On topic though…time wasting is totally annoying and an independent timekeeper would be most welcome.
I doubt whether the taking of goal-kicks from anywhere inside the six-yard box has led to a reduction in time-wasting.
I don’t think the 6-second rule has been enforced by any referee in the PL, even when Arsenal players have been guilty of exceeding the time-limit.
There are suggestions that the vanishing spray used by FIFA was “unlicensed”, and large sums of money may be owed to its Brazilian inventor. A Brazilian court found in favour of the inventor, but FIFA claim that Brazilian courts have no jurisdiction over them.
That sounds familiar.
The quick free kick ? Will this now be allowed by referees as long as it’s taken from the place where the infringement took place ? Every team would make sure they had a player standing over the ball at a free kick to stop the taking of it , the referee would put the whistle to his mouth indicating you can’t take the free kick until I’ve blown the whistle .
This rule/law is going to be quiet interesting in how it’s going to be implemented , lots of yellow cards , maybe .
I am of the opinion that instead of throw ins , we ought to have the ball kicked in just like corners and free kicks . Saves time , while adds a sense of urgency to the game.
Just book the person standing or trying to block a quick kick in !
I feel the general lack of urgency from the players is the culprit. With the exception of the absolute dying minutes the players stroll around the pitch like a dog on a hot summer day. How much time does it take to get off the pitch when substituted? After a goal? Throw in, etc? The referees need to enforce rules to keep the game moving. More yellows for time wasting would get it sorted.
seismic
“I doubt whether the taking of goal-kicks from anywhere inside the six-yard box has led to a reduction in time-wasting”
Totally agree. The principal is fine. The idea being the goal kick can be taken from wherever the ball is retrieved from behind the goal. Alas, it works in the exact opposite way as conversely the kick can also be taken from the opposite side from wherever the ball is retrieved, meaning it has actually made wasting time easier.
goonersince72 Mikey
“The referees need to enforce rules to keep the game moving. More yellows for time wasting would get it sorted.”
And therein lies the problem. As you say, the rules are there, but as Mikey says:
“Interestingly a number of these (and other existing rules) remain unenforced by referees and the problems still remain”.
And worse, again as Mikey rightly points out:
“So much of this (as is the case with VAR), sees reasonable rules in place but which are very poorly applied by referees who choose as and when to apply them according to their own desires and biases”.
So I think we all agree, the rules are not the issue, it’s the implementation of them by the referees (and VAR), and honestly, do any of us think that is going to change any time soon?
And to a point I understand why. It’s wrong, but I understand. Lets take a for example:
Old Trafford. Man Utd 1 down. 10 minutes left. Rashford on a yellow. The opponents get a free kick just outside the box and look to take it quickly. Rashford stands on the ball preventing the quick free kick. Is the referee really going to give him a second yellow for not retreating 10yards quickly enough and send him off? Honestly? If I’m honest I even doubt he’d do it to one of our players. But he should.
Or again same situation but Man Utd get a free kick and Rashford takes an age to take it. Again, will he get that second yellow? I think we all know the answer.
Just add the time. It takes the decision out of the referees hand, and we all get to see something closer to the 90 minutes we pay for, which is another thing carding the player doesn’t address.
The bottom line is, even if the referees do ‘clamp down’ on all these different aspects of time wasting, we all know the clamp down wont be imposed the same way across the board.
Take it out of their hands. Just add the time.
While not a time wasting issue the off side rule has been abused. As Tony noted it was introduced to stop goal hanging. However it is hardly goal hanging when it is measured by body parts being offside when the ball is passed forward. I think that the criterion to measure offside should be clear space between the attacking player and the defenders.Modern football is so fast that a fraction of a second now determines offside. Not what the rule was intended for. In the old days teams would just have one of their players standing near their opponents goal. That’s why a player cannot be offside in their own half a throwback to the oiginal offside rule.
Using the Laws as an excuse for time wasting is typical of the corrupt interpretation. The biggest time wasting is officiating, Any card that is issued should result in a free kick of some sort. Goalkeeper time wasting should result in an indirect free kick from the penalty spot, for the first incident and penalties for subsequent incidents.
Throw ins should be taken by the first player to handle the ball. If the throw in is not taken immediately (six seconds), it should be taken by the opposing team. There should not be any time given to building of walls for a free kick. The players of the fouling team should move away from the ball within 6 seconds and be ready at all times. Obstructing of a free kick should be a yellow card.
If cards are going to reduce the entertainment then the penalty for cards should be time limited as in Hockey.