Enforcing the laws of the game

[BlueStar]

Statement from the LMA in reaction to Danny Murphy's comments on SSN in a sec.

[Skirge]

Its total bollocks but they were never going to say anything else

[Greg]

LMA RESPONSE TO MEDIA COMMENTS DIRECTED AT MANAGERS

 

In response to the extensive coverage in all forms of the media on the much debated subject of unfair, aggressive and violent play, the LMA has issued the following statement.

 

It is important to note that the modern player is fitter, stronger and quicker than even his recent counterparts. In addition, the ball moves much faster than in the past which makes tackling increasingly more difficult. As a result, the impact of mistimed tackles is far greater than it ever was before.

 

With 20 or more cameras at every match (in the Barclays Premier League) the scrutiny and analysis, especially in slow motion, is now unremitting from both inside and outside the game. More than at any time in the past, defending requires thought, concentration, judgment, patience and perseverance. The game is more and more about pressing the ball, not being lured into early challenges and above all, staying on your feet.

 

When teams are working during the week the emphasis will be on areas including:

* intercepting wherever possible

* pressurizing the ball

* don't ball-watch

* be patient

* stay on your feet/going to ground is the last resort

 

All the statistics support these principles.

 

Football managers want to win matches.  Tackles of the sort currently being highlighted usually lead to yellow and red cards.  It is not often that you win matches with 9 or 10 players.

 

In the modern game, there are a lot of highly skilled and competent technicians, so it is vitally important that teams don't concede unnecessary free kicks, especially in their own half, which provide goal scoring opportunities to the opposition.

 

Taking into account the pace of the game, mistimed tackles by fractions of a second will happen and with that will be a potential risk of impact or injury but in no way does it follow that the actions are either deliberate or encouraged.

 

It is also important to note that managers in the Barclays Premier League have large support staffs which include highly qualified, competent, professional people. The focus for these professionals, when it comes to match preparation, is getting the players fully prepared and ready for play physically, mentally, emotionally and technically. They would not continue to support a manager who encouraged violent or reckless play in any direct or indirect way. What's more, disenchanted players, those not playing in the first team for example, would almost certainly leak to the public through current media channels such as blogs/twitter etc any suggestion that a manager was encouraging this type of play.

 

In closing, it is inappropriate for individuals to direct criticism at certain managers who are honest, professional and continue to achieve success on the field with their clubs. The accomplishments of the managers mentioned should be applauded rather than publicly judged. Professional football managers certainly do not incite their players to go out and cause injury to fellow professionals.  Two of the three clubs mentioned have yet to receive a red card in the Barclays Premier League this season.

[Skirge]

I think its obvious De Jong was told to clatter HBA as soon as he could, who told him I dunno.. more than likely Kidd told him... not saying he was told to injure him but told to give him a whack try and put hi off his game.

[Hughesy]

I still don't get the argument against video technology in certain circumstances.  Take Man City game for example.

 

Tevez 'penalty'.  Ref sees it - isn't sure - asks 4th official to look at video.  Ensure 4th official has only 30 seconds to decide.  If 4th official can't decide in that time - clearly it is a borderline decision so you go with the original decision.  Same with Ameobi decision.  Can't think of a single downside to that kind of system.

[JH]

It doesn't even have to be as drawn out as that. The 4th official should be sat watching the monitors at all times. If he misses it from an angle, he can bring up a replay within seconds.

 

Even if it's just for the Champions League and World Cup/Euros, we have to see it soon.

[madras]

It doesn't even have to be as drawn out as that. The 4th official should be sat watching the monitors at all times. If he misses it from an angle, he can bring up a replay within seconds.

 

Even if it's just for the Champions League and World Cup/Euros, we have to see it soon.

each corner kick and free kick near the box would see play stopped for half an hour.

[NoU]

It doesn't even have to be as drawn out as that. The 4th official should be sat watching the monitors at all times. If he misses it from an angle, he can bring up a replay within seconds.

 

Even if it's just for the Champions League and World Cup/Euros, we have to see it soon.

each corner kick and free kick near the box would see play stopped for half an hour.

agreed, and you'd have the audience and players appealing to watch the tapes all the time, which would lead even more breaks, destroying the rhytm of the game.

[JH]

Limit it like tennis then. Each captain gets 3 appeals in a game, referee and 4th official's decision is final.

[Guest firetotheworks]

Like I've said loads of times in other threads, the most effective and economically friendly way to do this is to just have a 4th official watching the match on T.V. None of this 3 appeals per game thing. Fair is fair.

[Hughesy]

Think is - it really wouldn't delay the game.  Such a non argument.

[wormy]

Fact. The delay argument is ridiculous, don't bring in a system that delays it too much then? If a system is created that is sensible, it won't do that, we'll barely notice the delay, it'll just become part of the game.

[JH]

The delay thing is quite funny actually. Some people go on as if the 4th official has to leave the stadium, find the production truck and manually rewind all the reels of tape everytime someone disputes a decision

[Skirge]

Okay gets delayed anyway with on pitch arguments as both sides surround the ref and put their point across.

Lets the 4th official say what he see's and leave it at that, only to advice the ref, he still has final say.

Ref can ask 4th official or 4th official can but in and say what he seen.

ITS NOT ROCKET SCIENCE.

[Guest elbee909]

Wouldn't have to be rewinding, could even be on a delayed feed so that they're with the action right by the time any query comes through.

[Guest firetotheworks]

Wouldn't have to be rewinding, could even be on a delayed feed so that they're with the action right by the time any query comes through.

 

 

What!?

[Exiled in Texas]

These are two separate issues - on field decisions and post-game review.

 

IMO the post-game review is the easier of the two to implment, and could be brought in very quickly if they wanted to. The On-Field decision making is a much bigger issue and should be dealt with separately as it's got many more points to work through and could easily get bogged down in technical discussions.

 

Focus on the Post-Game review and it could be brought in easily.

[madras]

Wouldn't have to be rewinding, could even be on a delayed feed so that they're with the action right by the time any query comes through.

query ? so the ref will only refer when he isn't sure ? isn't he already only supposed to award stuff when he is sure ? even then there will still be loads of stuff goes without the ref seeing, or will the 4th official just be on hand to tell the ref he's missed something ?

[Cronky]

The biggest problem is that so many decisions in football are matters of opinion rather than fact. That applies not just to whether a challenge is a foul, but also offsides, whether something is a corner or a goal kick and whether fouls are in the penalty area etc. We'd end up with long delays which leave us none the wiser and still arguing.

 

The use of replays in other sports is confined to issues of fact which are easier to determine -  eg whether a batsman was run out, or whether a try was scored. Even then, it's not without its problems.

 

The only exception I'd make is whether the ball has crossed the line for a goal.

 

This argument usually flares up when a ref makes a mistake that is clear cut and obvious. Trouble is, if you then bring in a rule about replays, you'd be spending a lot of time debating decisions which aren't clear cut and obvious.

[Colos Short and Curlies]

The biggest problem is that so many decisions in football are matters of opinion rather than fact. That applies not just to whether a challenge is a foul, but also offsides, whether something is a corner or a goal kick and whether fouls are in the penalty area etc. We'd end up with long delays which leave us none the wiser and still arguing.

 

The use of replays in other sports is confined to issues of fact which are easier to determine -  eg whether a batsman was run out, or whether a try was scored. Even then, it's not without its problems.

 

The only exception I'd make is whether the ball has crossed the line for a goal.

 

This argument usually flares up when a ref makes a mistake that is clear cut and obvious. Trouble is, if you then bring in a rule about replays, you'd be spending a lot of time debating decisions which aren't clear cut and obvious.

 

Not strictly true as there are laws covering all of the issues in the post. A corner is a corner if the defending team get the last touch, a foul is a foul if its meets the criteria in the rule book.

 

What you'd have to do with TV replays etc is to apply the letter of the law to each decision, take out any judgement what so ever.

 

I think it gets tricky when you question when to draw the line, is it limited to decisions inside the box? Inside the opponents half? Fouls only?

 

I don't know the answer to that, but for me its goal line only or nothing. Use the TV for post match discipline, but not for in game decisions. (But having said that I wouldn't have been against De Jong walking after a 3rd official gave the ref a nod and a wink)

[JH]

How can offsides be a matter of opinion? Unless it comes down to CMs, it's either on or off.

[Exiled in Texas]

Fouls are opinion.

 

Throw-ins, corners, goal kicks are fact.

 

Being in an offside position is fact, but not illegal. It's the involvement in play that is "in the opinion of the referee"

 

A player in an offside position is only penalized if, at the moment the ball touches or is played by one of his team,

he is, in the opinion of the referee,involved in active play by:

• interfering with play or

• interfering with an opponent or

• gaining an advantage by being in that position

[Colos Short and Curlies]

Fouls are opinion.

 

Throw-ins, corners, goal kicks are fact.

 

Being in an offside position is fact, but not illegal. It's the involvement in play that is "in the opinion of the referee"

 

A player in an offside position is only penalized if, at the moment the ball touches or is played by one of his team,

he is, in the opinion of the referee,involved in active play by:

interfering with play or

interfering with an opponent or

gaining an advantage by being in that position

 

I haven't read the rule book, but I can't beleive that a foul is down to opinion, I would have thought that there would be definitions of what is a fair challenge or a foul one

[Aphrodite]

Wouldn't have to be rewinding, could even be on a delayed feed so that they're with the action right by the time any query comes through.

 

I don't think that'd work like.

[Exiled in Texas]

I haven't read the rule book, but I can't beleive that a foul is down to opinion, I would have thought that there would be definitions of what is a fair challenge or a foul one

 

The LOTG are clear about what is a foul - kicking, triping, pushing etc.   The opinion part it is whether the referee actually think that a trip, or kick or push etc actually took place. (see De Jong vs Ben Arfa or either of the two penalty decisions for a difference in opinion from the referee and others).  Foul recognition is all about the referee's opinion about what is/is not a foul.

 

A direct free kick is awarded to the opposing team if a player commits any of the following seven offences in a manner considered by the referee to be careless, reckless or using excessive force:

• kicks or attempts to kick an opponent

• trips or attempts to trip an opponent

• jumps at an opponent

• charges an opponent

• strikes or attempts to strike an opponent

• pushes an opponent

• tackles an opponent