MLS rule changes

[Tricky Trevor]

I love US sport for their aim of fairness and the customer getting the best out of their visit.
I’d support both of these.

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[Darthlaw]

Superb although I hope the second rule is only imposed if the referee feels the need to stop the game for an injury. One thing I do think referees have done well with this season is ignoring players, feigning injury.

[RickyBobby]

What I would like to see is if any player goes down holding their head, they should leave the field for a minimum of 5 minutes to be properly assessed.

[Burnley1989]

What I would like to see is if any player goes down holding their head, they should leave the field for a minimum of 5 minutes to be properly assessed.

I know an ex player that openly admits he used to try and give the opposition as much of his head as the ball, that rule would have really benefited his team

[claretburns]

If a player is faking injury at the end of a game to waste time then absolutely I agree with the 2nd rule.

Find it a bit harsh if a player has been injured by an opponent and they have to leave for 2 minutes.

[Inchy]

I think only the captains should be aloud to talk to the ref.

Any other player who shouts, appeals, etc at the ref is instantly booked. Do it again and you’re off. Would soon stop a lot of the crowding of refs

[wilks_bfc]

I often thought it odd that a team is penalised when their player genuinely needs to go for having treatment, playing a man down whilst the offending team has all their players

[ArmchairDetective]

Big fan of the first rule.

In two minds about the second. It will potentially encourage players with genuine injuries including head injuries to continue playing to avoid their team going down to 10 men during an important phase of the game.

But glad to see something being done about players wasting time.

[DCWat]

Big fan of the first rule.

In two minds about the second. It will potentially encourage players with genuine injuries including head injuries to continue playing to avoid their team going down to 10 men during an important phase of the game.

But glad to see something being done about players wasting time.

It also gives teams an opportunity to disrupt play when out of possession. Go down for fifteen seconds and game stopped. Man down for two minutes but defence reset - I could well see that exploited when a team is holding out for a win or a draw.

[Darthlaw]

As soon as the rule came in this season that once the physio is on - the player concerned is off for 30 seconds, they all just stay down but dont call the physio.

I think the second is more to stop players pulling this stunt, rather than someone hitting the deck for 15+ seconds randomly mid opposition attack.

[DCWat]

As soon as the rule came in this season that once the physio is on - the player concerned is off for 30 seconds, they all just stay down but dont call the physio.

I think the second is more to stop players pulling this stunt, rather than someone hitting the deck for 15+ seconds randomly mid opposition attack.

I’m sure it is, though I’m also sure teams will try to exploit it to their advantage.

[Darthlaw]

Doubtless.

They immediately found a way to slow the game with the physio rule and even when a player is off for 30 seconds they just do simple passes around the back until back up to a full complement anyway.

This rule would only benefit teams still with 11 men on the pitch and in possession.

[Hipper]

I often thought it odd that a team is penalised when their player genuinely needs to go for having treatment, playing a man down whilst the offending team has all their players

Unfortunately, practically all players cheat and there is no way a referee can usually make a judgement if a player is really injured or not (I agree there are obvious cases where he can).

In a Spurs game this season with Spurs leading by one goal they were time wasting. Hojbjerg went down injured and stayed down. It was clear to everyone that he was cheating. The ref stopped play AND called on the physio. Hojbjerg protested but of course he then had to go off. Top refereeing.

As we are changing the rules, I have a proposal. If a player is guilty of dangerous play and is sent off as a result (a straight red), the number of matches he is banned for should be the same as the games the injured player is out of his team. Of course in the spirit of todays game clubs may well keep their injured player out longer then needed in order to stop the guilty player from playing but I still like the idea!