Stop time wasting and don't talk back. Rule change anyone?

[hugefanfromwayback]

Ok so back-chatting to referees has been an issue for as long as we can remember - top 4 teams in particular guilty of harassing and crowding referees to a ridiculous extent. Time wasting is another pet hate that hasn't been addressed successfully.

Yellow cards are doled out to players with no particular consistency - look at a yellow for cashely vs. robbie's yellow for backchat against chelsea. Considering the suspensions that come as a result of these cards and it seems a bad way to apply the law.

What I propose - which has been successfully used in rugby and aussie rules codes - is for a rule that allows refs to advance a free kick twenty metres forward for the attacking team.

Aussie rules is one of the only games I know of where if a player tries to waste a few seconds holding up the other team (not giving the ball back or the like) the ref is quick to give the fifty yard penalty.

Also with regards to talking to refs, I see no problem with 'discussing' a decision, but the minute a player starts swearing and oversteps the line....twenty metres forward.

This way we reduce the amount of stupid cards awarded per game, encourage better sportsmanship from players and give refs a bit of power to wield. Any takers?

 

[thejames]

I'm not a huge rugby fan, but there are definite lessons to be learnt from the sport.

The players respect the refs, and his word goes. Like you said, the kicks can be pushed forward or backward. They've successfully integrated technology into their decision making, and I actually quite like the whole sinbin thing too.

I concur. Something has to be done.