Bugger Fair Play, bugger it I say.
Time to stop this stupid kicking the ball out if an opposition player goes down injured.
It started well enough but now two things are happening:
1 Obviously it is misused, with a player going down as if struck by lightning when the opposition is attacking, then howling for the ball to be put out. A miraculous recovery later they bound back on.
2 The concept of giving the ball back is now being warped. The ball is not being kicked deep to an opposition player, but instead put into touch. This happened three times in the Champions League final (two Chelsea, one the other lot). Iraq did it yesterday and then closed down Australia for the throw in.
If it is an injury let the ref decide - no blood or visible bone and I for one advocate letting the game flow. If feeling so inclined, proffer a quick kick or gentler pressure from studs to a soft fleshy part of the body to check for consciousness and on goes the game.
Time to stop this stupid kicking the ball out if an opposition player goes down injured.
It started well enough but now two things are happening:
1 Obviously it is misused, with a player going down as if struck by lightning when the opposition is attacking, then howling for the ball to be put out. A miraculous recovery later they bound back on.
2 The concept of giving the ball back is now being warped. The ball is not being kicked deep to an opposition player, but instead put into touch. This happened three times in the Champions League final (two Chelsea, one the other lot). Iraq did it yesterday and then closed down Australia for the throw in.
If it is an injury let the ref decide - no blood or visible bone and I for one advocate letting the game flow. If feeling so inclined, proffer a quick kick or gentler pressure from studs to a soft fleshy part of the body to check for consciousness and on goes the game.
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