Fixing The Fakers: How Simple Changes Could Revamp the Game

Yesterday at 01:00 AM

Time-wasting, play-acting, and crowding referees are holding football back. Could adopting rugby's rules — from open physio access to visible VAR — be the game-changer fans have been waiting for?

We've heard a lot recently about pet hates and frustrations in football. As a sports fan in general, I think football could take several cues from rugby, both Union and League. The most noticeable difference is the level of respect shown to referees by players and crowds.

Rugby players listen to the referee, often calling them "Sir" and never crowding them or appealing en masse. When a rugby player gets hurt, they don't want anyone to notice and tend to carry on.

Footballers, on the other hand, will usually make sure everyone knows if they've even been lightly brushed. This cultural difference is deeply ingrained, and it's unlikely to change soon.

However, there are some rules from rugby that I think football could trial, even if only for a period. The biggest one, which I think would help to reduce time-wasting and feigned injuries, is allowing physios to treat players on the pitch while the game continues.

This wouldn't work in every scenario — if a keeper is injured, for instance, the game would obviously need to stop. But, I'd love to see a trial of trainers treating injuries without halting play. I suspect players would get up more quickly if they realised they were only disadvantaging their own team by remaining down. In rugby league, play usually carries on around the trainer, and the risk of interference is minimal.

It's certainly not a foolproof idea, but it would discourage some play-acting.

One of the challenges is that football treats the pitch as almost sacred. No one is allowed to step past the white line without the express permission of the referee. I recently watched St. Helens v Warrington, and Saints made five substitutions at once without disrupting the game — they just announced it over the loudspeaker. Players run on and off the pitch while the game goes on, meaning subs have to be quick to avoid hindering their own team. Coaches even run on with water bottles when needed. The pitch isn't seen as untouchable, so referees don't always need to stop the game to let someone on.

Recently, at the Stadium of Light, two balls were on the pitch, yet no one dared to quickly retrieve the extra ball — not a steward, a ball boy, or even the linesman standing two yards away! Allowing treatment or water to be administered without stopping the game could help speed things up and prevent players from using fake injuries to relieve pressure or waste time.

Another bugbear is the notion that a game lasts 94, 95, or even 98 minutes. It's a 90-minute game, with added time compensating for when the ball isn't in play. Added time should merely bring the match up to 90 minutes. Rugby again leads the way here: each time there's a break in play, the clock stops, and everyone in the ground can see it. When the referee wants time to start again, he calls "time on," and the clock resumes counting down. In rugby league, when time is up, the hooter sounds — no waiting to see if an attack will play out. When time's up, it's up.

While VAR in football has many critics, I can't see it being scrapped, so why not advance it as the RFU does? In England's recent match against New Zealand, the crowd saw the same footage that the off-field team were viewing, plus they heard the discussion between the referee and video officials. When a decision was made, the referee addressed the crowd and explained it. Imagine a sport that treats its fans as informed, rather than in the dark!

There's a further conversation to be had around sin bins and retrospective red cards, but I'll save that for another day. One thing's certain: time-wasting cheats, divers, and players feigning injury can't continue to spoil the game. Perhaps officials could introduce retrospective bookings after reviewing match footage? A team of referees with playing experience might also help, as I've yet to see anyone genuinely trip and fling their arms in the air or react to injury by rolling over three or four times. I don't have all the answers, and my ideas may have flaws, but change is needed if we're to preserve the sport.