I was interested to read Simon Burnton’s article about the failure to find a solution to the problem of time-wasting in football (For 140 years time-wasting has afflicted football and there is still no solution, 17 April). There is a straightforward solution that would kill time-wasting (or would nullify its intended effect) at a stroke. It is based on, and extends, the system used in rugby union.
1) We decide on how much playing time supporters are willing to pay to see. Based on figures in Simon’s article, 30 minutes per half feels generous. 2) Stadium clocks are set to count down from 30 minutes at the start of each half. 3) The clock is controlled by an off-pitch official and is stopped whenever there is a break in play. This will include throw-ins, goal kicks, corners, penalties, offsides, fouls, injury treatment, VAR, substitutions etc. 4) The clock is restarted when play is resumed. 5) The game ends after the clock reaches zero, but not in an abrupt manner. It could require the ball to go dead, but not as a result of a foul by the team who are leading (or either team if they are drawing).
There will, undoubtedly, be many “but what about this or that situation” reactions to these suggestions, but I’m sure they could form the basis of a working or experimental model.
Neil and Matthew Kimberley
Windsor, Berkshire
• There is a solution – the five-second rule – that could be applied to throw-ins and goal kicks. It works well in basketball. During a throw-in, the referee extends and retracts her arm for each second, while a count begins with the other hand. At five seconds, the referee holds up five fingers and possession of the ball switches to the other team.
Barrie Abbott
Parksville, British Columbia, Canada
• My suggestions to end time-wasting in football are: award a free kick (it would instantly end time-wasting by goalkeepers, the worst culprits); introduce a minimum three-minute compulsory withdrawal for injury; and ban all substitutions after the 80th minute.
Alan Barton
Wigan
• I think one solution to combat time-wasting would be to change from punishing the player to punishing the team. If the referee decided a goalkeeper was taking too long for a goal kick, he could award a corner to the other side. This could apply to throw-ins, free kicks etc. Players could also be booked.
Martin Pennington
Hyde, Cheshire
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