Sin Bin?

[CosmicHotspur]

A controversial idea...

It occurred to me, seeing the number of yellow cards being given (or not being given) for marginal fouls, wouldn't it be a good idea to have a "sin bin" as they do in other sports, rather than the ref giving a verbal ticking off with the player thinking he's got away with it? The next offence would be a red or yellow card, depending on the severity of the offence as a player could only be sin binned once.

A five minute time out on the bench instead of a card for that first marginal infringmenet could be a more just punishment. The team would be deprived of the offending players for five minutes which would have more of an impact on both player and team. If there are many offenders playing a dirty game, it could have a real effect on the result of a game, pull those players into line, allow them cooling down time and clean up football generally. Club fines could apply too.

I think it would have to apply for all positions except goalie as it would be too time-wasting to substitute them. They'd still be subject to the current system of cards.

I know this would depend on the referee's discretion and ability which is already so often disputed. (Instant video replay would certainly help, along with the assistant refs' feedback).

Would like to discuss further and see your comments.

 

[Rocksuperstar]

I was wondering about sin bins after the mentions of Brooking wanting to implement another rule from rugby, but i came to the conclusion that it would break up the play far too much and lead to too many arguments.

I think that maybe if it was used in conjunction with the proposed rule to only allow captains to approach the ref, meaning that 5 minutes in the bin was your punishment for sticking you nose in, but in almost every other case i figure the yellow and red card system kind of covers it :shrug:

 

[Bill_Oddie]

It does have merit. I don't think it could really work, though.

Firstly, fans would taunt the player so much that even in non-debatable decisions they would run on the pitch even more wound-up and looking for trouble than they left it.

It would probably benefit us though. And other teams with tactically strong managers, who could adapt their games/approach at will.

 

[Rocksuperstar]

The only way i could see it being used without breaking up the play and giving opportunities to time waste, would be to only use it for offences committed when the ball is dead, for example; an angry exchange after the whistles gone for a free kick - 5 minutes in the bin each or, as mentioned before, someone barracking the ref or giving a linesman lip for a decision.

It's this mentality of thinking their ranting will change anything that has to be worked out of players and managers - they seem to think that, once the whistle has gone, if they give the ref enough shit he'll back down and change his mind or something.

Equally though, we need to address this rather disturbing power that some of the top players have, apparently able to control the ref and turn a simple free kick into a yellow card by waving their arm in the air, demanding a booking - Ronaldo is particularly bad for this and i'm not just picking on the England/Portugal game, he does it a lot.

 

[chrissivad]

I was wondering about sin bins after the mentions of Brooking wanting to implement another rule from rugby, but i came to the conclusion that it would break up the play far too much and lead to too many arguments.

Agree with it breaking up the play. I just think there are too many new rules coming into the game and it will be more difficult to play a free flowing game of football.

I would even go back to the old offside rule of if your infront of the last defender when the ball is kicked your offside. If your on the pitch you are active on the pitch.

 

[CosmicHotspur]

Using a sin bin for players barracking the ref wouldn't work because often there are several of them doing it - who would be sent off when there are five or six of them involved?

Of course opposing supporters would jeer, but that could only serve as a kind of shaming/aversion therapy as players would hate it. The sin bin would have to be sited near the team's bench, away from the fans, and the player would be forbidden to complain or moan to his team mates and manager but would have to maintain silence for the five minutes. Perhaps a special little booth to sit in near the bench would serve the purpose of isolating the player.

It wouldn't really time-waste as the player would have to go straight off and play would resume as quickly as for any other referee decision. If he delayed and argued about it, it would mean an instant red card.

 

[Shanks]

Also remember that binning players could have an effect on their health.
PLayers cooling down for 5 mins, then going back into games could have an effect in muscle injuries.

I would continue to banish yellow and red cards.

If the ref's had the bollocks to stand up against the top teams and actually start sending some off for these offences, then players would learn.

Stick to the current rules I say.

 

[seesyboyyid]

Setting a time limit wouldn't work in football. Firstly if someone has been sin binned for 5 minutes, how much of that 5 minutes would actually have any effect on the field? Adding to that the fact that someone on the same side could fein injury for 4 of those minutes it seems pretty pointless.

In theory it makes sense, in practice not so much.

 

[Rocksuperstar]

Also remember that binning players could have an effect on their health.
PLayers cooling down for 5 mins, then going back into games could have an effect in muscle injuries.

I would continue to banish yellow and red cards.

If the ref's had the bollocks to stand up against the top teams and actually start sending some off for these offences, then players would learn.

Stick to the current rules I say.

I agree - all it will take is one game between Woolwich and Man U and a ref with some real balls.

I would love to see a ref explain to the players around that they should walk away now or get booked, then actually book them when they ignore him. If they continue to give the ref lip, even walking away giving him verbal abuse, drag him back, send him off.

What if he gets 3 players barracking him? Book them all and, if necessary, after three warnings and a yellow, send them all off - ALL OF THEM. Don't try and be kind, to keep the game going, or to keep things fair - load of bollocks.

If it was widely known that ref's are more than prepared to book you and/or send you off for bugging them then it WILL stop.

 

[TheBlueRooster]

I agree - all it will take is one game between Woolwich and Man U and a ref with some real balls.

I would love to see a ref explain to the players around that they should walk away now or get booked, then actually book them when they ignore him. If they continue to give the ref lip, even walking away giving him verbal abuse, drag him back, send him off.

What if he gets 3 players barracking him? Book them all and, if necessary, after three warnings and a yellow, send them all off - ALL OF THEM. Don't try and be kind, to keep the game going, or to keep things fair - load of bollocks.

If it was widely known that ref's are more than prepared to book you and/or send you off for bugging them then it WILL stop.

:clap::clap::clap::clap::clap:

I couldn't agree more.

I'd scrap the player being treated for injury having to go off as well. It was brought in to stop time wasting but it doesn't work, someone who is genuinely injured is punished while the twat that kicked him can help defend a free kick. The player who caused the injury should go off and stay off until the player being treated returns or is substituted, and only come back on after the next break of play.

 

[PantherX]

I like the idea of the sin bin myself. It would give the ref another option especailly in cases where a red would be too harsh.

Whatever you say about it though the player discipline in both sports that use the system (rugby and hockey) is much better than in football. Granted that the sports have very different cultures but I still feel that it would make a difference.

BTW I don't see football as any more demanding physically than either hockey or rugby and I haven't seen any evidence in those sports to suggest that it would cause undue harm...... unless footballers are really as soft as they appear on tv.

 

[EmperorKabir]

i'd be totally in favour, but only if there was a system to speed things up.

think of how long a player for a team winning by 1 goal takes to get his ass off the pitch.

I there are 6 sin bins in a match, and 5 subs, there will be about 10 minutes added time.

I suppose if a player doesn't leave the field of play in under 25 seconds, they get an extra minute in the bin? (bar injury, ref descretion etc).

If a sub takes too long to leave the field of play (e.g. they are takinga ges coz their team is winning by 1 goal), then the new sub has to be in the bin for a minute before coming on.

Sounds complicated etc, but wouldn't take too long to get used to.

It also requires proper timing, and along with video replays, goal line technology etc etc... football might one day become a fair sport where cheats don't keep winning.

 

[MattWilliams]

I like the idea of sin binning. It seems a fairly reasonable method of helping to sort out the obvious discipline and attitude problems prevalent in football.