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#Post#: 80727--------------------------------------------------
Head Injuries - the latest cynical tactic.
DIR By: Leggy
Date: June 28, 2024, 6:46 am
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It was an emerging theme in the latter part of the season just
ended and has been more prominent in the Euros, but it is now
part of the defensive play-book: "Manufacturing" a head injury
to get the game stopped.
The clearest example happened when a free-kick struck a player
in the "wall" amidships and rebounded to an attacker. The
struck player fell to the ground (after a short delay to gather
his thoughts and remember what to do) and clutched his head -
seemingly in significant distress. Play was stopped, denying
the attacking team a promising attack post the free-kick.
Needless to say that - after a few seconds - the distressed
defender was 100% fine to continue and join his colleagues
organised and ready to defend the subsequent drop ball.
I am not blaming the referee - no-one is going to take the risk
based on the visual evidence, but this is a blatant and cynical
tactic which - unchecked - will soon be deployed by every team.
It is yet another example of a change in law / playing condition
that was brought in to benefit the game and has been rapidly
hijacked by coaches and players to gain an unfair advantage. If
temporary concussion assessment substitutions are ever
introduced, they will equally be exploited (possibly more so).
Given that top games are all videoed, it is pretty easy to
identify, name and shame those players who fall to the ground as
it taken out by a sniper only to recover once they have achieved
their aim of winning a free-kick; getting an opponent sanctioned
or just stopping the game because it not going their way at that
particular time. Only easy, of course, if there is a desire to
do so!
Its putting me off big time and I suspect I am not alone. Any
sensible ideas on how to cut this cancer from the game?
#Post#: 80729--------------------------------------------------
Re: Head Injuries - the latest cynical tactic.
DIR By: TillysDad
Date: June 28, 2024, 7:11 am
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The only way to stop this is to make any player who sustains a
head injury has to leave the pitch for a set number of minutes
to be assessed
#Post#: 80731--------------------------------------------------
Re: Head Injuries - the latest cynical tactic.
DIR By: carrowman
Date: June 28, 2024, 8:58 am
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--- Quote from: Leggy link ---
>
> It was an emerging theme in the latter part of the season just
ended and has been more prominent in the Euros, but it is now
part of the defensive play-book: "Manufacturing" a head injury
to get the game stopped.
>
> The clearest example happened when a free-kick struck a player
in the "wall" amidships and rebounded to an attacker. The
struck player fell to the ground (after a short delay to gather
his thoughts and remember what to do) and clutched his head -
seemingly in significant distress. Play was stopped, denying
the attacking team a promising attack post the free-kick.
>
> Needless to say that - after a few seconds - the distressed
defender was 100% fine to continue and join his colleagues
organised and ready to defend the subsequent drop ball.
>
> I am not blaming the referee - no-one is going to take the
risk based on the visual evidence, but this is a blatant and
cynical tactic which - unchecked - will soon be deployed by
every team. It is yet another example of a change in law /
playing condition that was brought in to benefit the game and
has been rapidly hijacked by coaches and players to gain an
unfair advantage. If temporary concussion assessment
substitutions are ever introduced, they will equally be
exploited (possibly more so).
>
> Given that top games are all videoed, it is pretty easy to
identify, name and shame those players who fall to the ground as
it taken out by a sniper only to recover once they have achieved
their aim of winning a free-kick; getting an opponent sanctioned
or just stopping the game because it not going their way at that
particular time. Only easy, of course, if there is a desire to
do so!
>
> Its putting me off big time and I suspect I am not alone. Any
sensible ideas on how to cut this cancer from the game?
>
--- End Quote ---
Unfortunately, I think this has been happening for somewhile.
But nothing will be done, just in case there was the 1 case when
someone was injured.
My other bug bears, teams having a "team meeting" after they
have scored in the opposition corner, and players who are going
to be substituted going down "injured" and then we have to wait
while the sub gets his kit ready, finds his shirt, puts his
miniscule shinpads on etc.
It does seem that time isn't being added on like it used to be
and I certainly feel the Euros seem to have relapsed back to the
normal 3/4 minutes.
#Post#: 80732--------------------------------------------------
Re: Head Injuries - the latest cynical tactic.
DIR By: Ref Watcher
Date: June 28, 2024, 9:34 am
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--- Quote from: TillysDad link ---
>
> The only way to stop this is to make any player who sustains a
head injury has to leave the pitch for a set number of minutes
to be assessed
>
--- End Quote ---
This can easily be done by referees under the current Laws. I
have done so myself on numerous occasions. If a player goes
down with an apparent head injury, insist on the physio coming
on. When the player complains that they are fine and don't
require treatment, tell them that they are in no position to
judge as they have just sustained a head injury. Player leaves
the field after assessment. Player returns when the referee
remembers to permit them to do so. My memory of the fact the
there is a player waiting to return to the field of play seems
to get affected by how cynical the apparent head injury was!
#Post#: 80741--------------------------------------------------
Re: Head Injuries - the latest cynical tactic.
DIR By: Readingfan
Date: June 28, 2024, 1:31 pm
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If a referee stops play for a perceived head injury then it
seems good practice to ask the physio to come on - firstly as a
precaution for if there is a genuine injury and secondly so the
player has to at least leave the field if they are trying to
halt an attack etc.
#Post#: 80852--------------------------------------------------
Re: Head Injuries - the latest cynical tactic.
DIR By: TheOpinionOfTheReferee
Date: July 1, 2024, 9:32 am
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The main issue I see with this is players refusing to be
assessed when they are in need of it.
But agree with feigning of injuries being a scourge on the game.
#Post#: 80909--------------------------------------------------
Re: Head Injuries - the latest cynical tactic.
DIR By: bmb
Date: July 3, 2024, 6:10 am
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--- Quote from: TillysDad link ---
>
> The only way to stop this is to make any player who sustains a
head injury has to leave the pitch for a set number of minutes
to be assessed
>
--- End Quote ---
5-10 mins ought to do it. Long enough to assess if there are any
concussion side effects. Send the player off the pitch and make
the doctors do all of the tests they have to do to check for any
signs of concussion while the game continues.
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