So, the rule makers are thinking of putting a time cap on how late substitutions can be made. It’s almost like the game’s governing body, the International FA Board, sit around changing legislation for the sake of it, just to justify their salaries.
The idea is to stop managers making changes just to waste time. We have all been in that situation where we are chasing a goal in the 90th minute, just to see the opposition suddenly take an extra minute to take off the player, who just so happens to be on the other side of the pitch (although we love it when we are the ones doing it).
Those who want to implement a new policy are essentially saying they don’t trust officials to add up. If that’s the case we just as well do what they do in the NBA, stop the clock when the ball is out of play, so the whistle is blown as soon as the clock hits exactly 90 minutes. That would take away the drama of a stoppage time winner (the most thrilling feelings in the sport).
At end of the day everyone knows the rules and has a level playing field. If a boss chooses to save his subs to the last few seconds, that’s part of their game management. If you’re in a situation where your making changes in stoppage time, you have worked hard to put yourself in that position.
ROY HODGSON SAID: “It is a complicated subject,”
“Does it mean that the moment the 90 minutes is up, that you would have to play with 10 men if a player got injured? And for the guy who wants to waste time, who is going to actually decide whether the player is feigning injury or not?”
As a fan who didn’t appreciate how many penalties VAR gave us in the World Cup, sometimes I just wish we would leave the game alone.
Dan Smith