It’s not hard to accomplish, but resistance to change is the biggest hurdle to overcome. In addition, 60 minutes isn’t enough!!! I’d entertain two 40 minute halves, but would hold the line there, especially with 5 subs now. We used to have 1, then 3, now 5 from 9!! That’s enough to keep a viable 80 minutes of football! Until players get to the elite levels, there’s nowhere near the time-wasting we see at the top!
Timekeeper simply stops the clock for certain things:
Free kick
Corner
Penalty
Substitution
Injury
Throw-ins are often so quick that they should simply be an on-field count of 5 by the referee’s whistle, then his arm counting (NBA ref!) IF it’s not taken immediately.
It boggles the mind that we have allowed some players to fucking polish the ball with a ball-boy supplied towel to attempt to gain an advantage. What bullshit is that? Meanwhile, we all wait for the Centre Backs to wander upfield into the box!
When the ball goes out for a throw in, if not taken immediately, the ref should blow his whistle, wave his hand to proceed, and the 5 second count begins! If the ball isn’t thrown, the opposition gets a FREE KICK from that point on the field!
“DISINCENTIVIZE” negative actions and they will soon disappear, just like abusing the officials would quickly stop if the ref was mic’d up.
As a way to introduce this, from August to Dec 31 next season, the audio would be shared with the clubs, with PGMOL comments on what will be penalized in the second phase of the season.
From Jan 1st, audio would be made available POST-GAME for anyone to listen to, and officials would be expected to produce the cards that are needed.
Indeed, NO-ONE other than the Captain should be allowed to approach/address the Referee, and “in the face of the linesman or Referee” would be an automatic yellow card.
The whole “Respect” campaign has been an absolute joke, and when you see some of the officiating, you might be able to understand that! However, we have to introduce greater transparency and discipline into the game because the pressure from both the amount of money at stake on the field AND (perhaps more importantly) amongst the global gambling syndicates that slosh their billions of dollars around football is becoming ever more intense.
Transparency protects not only the game, but the officials, and even the fans love of the game.
The game is as big as it has ever been and the money to be made has grown along with that. However, football should realize it is not immune to the realities of fan apathy and anger, or the ever-present issue of corruption in and around the game.
A refocus on the football fan (the consumer!) would just be good business for the game, both financially today and in a future where technology is making a grab for the time and money of every youngster, who will be the lifeblood of the game in the future.
Manage the on-field product, lower the cost of entry for new (and current) fans, and rationalize the inherent costs within the game (wages, transfer fees, etc.) and the game will have a future.
Don’t protect the paying consumer and the Golden Goose will die.
