60 minute games of football

[SHODAN]

Amidst one of the most cynical exercises in time wasting I've ever seen at the weekend, I noticed this idea is being given formal consideration now.

Football matches reduced to sixty minutes, with the clock stopping every time the ball is not in play. This may seem like a drastic reduction in time, but in fact the ball is usually "out" for around 30 minutes per game, so the overall length would be similar.

Would kill time wasting stone dead. I'd be all for it.

[Torto7]

Something has to be done. Its even worse in other leagues where the GK always seems to go down injured conveniently when their team is ahead or looking for a draw. Football as a sport is largely dire now apart from a handful of teams.

[Newry Hibs]

Just have proper stoppage time.

[superfurryhibby]

This issue needs addressed and it shouldn’t be that hard. The time wasting on Saturday was sickening to watch and also very predictable. Finding a way to ensure that no team benefits from this kind of cheating would be a positive step for a sport which is degenerating into a farce. The diving, gamesmanship, faking injury pish diminishes the game. Sadly, kids see it and copy these antics too, so it permeates downwards.

Beautiful game....my arse

[Inconsequential]

I think there should be a penalty shoot out at the start of every match. Then we wouldn't have to watch 90 minutes of crap football. Just a thought.

[madhatter]

Won't fix it - teams will just run the ball into the corner.

There is another side of time-wasting it won't stop either. Players taking ages with throw-ins to give their teammates a breather. You are almost excusing it by stopping the clock.

Referees are already useless at enforcing the rules, by stopping the clock you're essentially just giving teams license to take as long as they want without even a risk of reproach.

Get referees that can actually enforce the rules of the game. Some rules are black and white but they still manage to find a grey area. Persistent fouling: some players get 2, some get 12.

[ozhibs]

We we’re having this discussion on an other forum.
One of the guys who is a referee said that they added time on for stoppages, but in the case of Gordon on Saturday or the hearts players suddenly falling down, it’s more a case of breaking the momentum.
It definitely worked on Saturday

GGTTH

[wookie70]

Won't fix it - teams will just run the ball into the corner.

There is another side of time-wasting it won't stop either. Players taking ages with throw-ins to give their teammates a breather. You are almost excusing it by stopping the clock.

Referees are already useless at enforcing the rules, by stopping the clock you're essentially just giving teams license to take as long as they want without even a risk of reproach.

Get referees that can actually enforce the rules of the game. Some rules are black and white but they still manage to find a grey area. Persistent fouling: some players get 2, some get 12.

Just have a countdown to take any set piece like throw ins. Choose an appropriate time and stadium clock counts down after ref blows whistle, presses button or similar. Also when the Keeper gets the ball in hand count down from 6 seconds on stadium clock. If you fail to take set piece in the time then possession is reversed and the other team gets an indirect free kick.

It would be very easy to make top flight football a very attractive game, even snooker and chess move quicker than football in making their game quicker. The simple fact is that those that run the game have no interest in the fans or the product and the hype that surrounds diving, time wasting and cheating actually generates them clicks and revenue more than a good clean game. Football is pretty much sporting clickbait these days.

[Lago]

Amidst one of the most cynical exercises in time wasting I've ever seen at the weekend, I noticed this idea is being given formal consideration now.

Football matches reduced to sixty minutes, with the clock stopping every time the ball is not in play. This may seem like a drastic reduction in time, but in fact the ball is usually "out" for around 30 minutes per game, so the overall length would be similar.

Would kill time wasting stone dead. I'd be all for it.
Here's a thought, play 90 minutes and stop the clock every time the ball is not in play.

[CropleyWasGod]

I'm not sure this will be that big a help.

Players often go down "injured", not to waste time, but to break up play. If the other team is controlling the game, a stoppage can break their momentum.

IMO, that's at the root of what CG was doing on Saturday. Stopping the clock wouldn't have prevented that.

[MKHIBEE]

We we’re having this discussion on an other forum.
One of the guys who is a referee said that they added time on for stoppages, but in the case of Gordon on Saturday or the hearts players suddenly falling down, it’s more a case of breaking the momentum.
It definitely worked on Saturday

GGTTH

Do what they do in rugby, carry on playing while the physio/ trainer whatever comes onto the pitch

[PatHead]

I'm not sure this will be that big a help.

Players often go down "injured", not to waste time, but to break up play. If the other team is controlling the game, a stoppage can break their momentum.

IMO, that's at the root of what CG was doing on Saturday. Stopping the clock wouldn't have prevented that.

The first Scottish team I remember doing this was Alex Ferguson's Aberdeen. Whenever Hibs got momentum going someone would go down injured.

[wookie70]

Do what they do in rugby, carry on playing while the physio/ trainer whatever comes onto the pitch

I agree and if it is the goalkeeper then that is hard luck. Basically anything that can be done to stop gamesmanship or as I'd rather call it cheating is a good thing. Blatant diving should be a minimum of 5 game ban. Wasting time or stopping the flow of the game should be an automatic booking. Players standing in front of a free kick to stop it being taken should be booked and ball advanced 10 yards up to and including the box where a penalty should be given. The 6 second rule and stopping keepers passing back were good things initially but when they stopped refereeing the six second rule Keepers just hold the ball for ages and it isn't much better than the old Jim McLean pass back. There are lots of ways football could become much better and lots of things that should be trailed like sin bins and team fouls. I hate that teams like Hearts foul the opposition to break up play knowing they have one free shot and the next time will be a booking. They then share that out so they can break up play repeatedly over the game. I'd book any player not making an attempt to play the ball regardless of how bad a foul it was. I'd have a sin bin for 15 mins for the 3rd player booked and for "amber" offences.

Newell's tackle that got him sent off is no real issue for fans. It was a split second misjudgement of a 50:50. Most of us love a good tackle and there were plenty on Saturday. I'd argue they were the most entertaining part of the game. Cochrane on the other hand fouled two Hibs players to deliberately stop attacks with no intention of playing the ball. The ref shouldn't even think there and it should be an automatic yellow.

[CentreLine]

I'm not sure this will be that big a help.

Players often go down "injured", not to waste time, but to break up play. If the other team is controlling the game, a stoppage can break their momentum.

IMO, that's at the root of what CG was doing on Saturday. Stopping the clock wouldn't have prevented that.

Agreed. Time wasting is an issue but breaking up play is harder to address.

[A Hi-Bee]

Amidst one of the most cynical exercises in time wasting I've ever seen at the weekend, I noticed this idea is being given formal consideration now.

Football matches reduced to sixty minutes, with the clock stopping every time the ball is not in play. This may seem like a drastic reduction in time, but in fact the ball is usually "out" for around 30 minutes per game, so the overall length would be similar.

Would kill time wasting stone dead. I'd be all for it.

If we count the side ways and backwards passing be lucky to see 20 mins of football.

[GreenCastle]

The momentum killing is the issue.

Physios on during play and even max 10 seconds to take a throw in may help. The deliberate fouls are bad too - some worse than yellow but not a red - sin bin?

Persistent fouling too - like rugby maybe make it accumulation of fouls - doesn’t matter who does it - 4th foul = yellow for that player.

Football has made the rules over complicated last few years with handballs and offsides etc.

The stopping of clock won’t make much difference.

[Lendo]

The shortest game recorded in the UK was Cardiff versus Burnley where the ball was actually in-play for 42 minutes and 2 seconds.

[Sergio sledge]

Breaking up play is almost endemic now and we are at it as well, almost every corner or free kick nowadays there's a defender going down with a "head knock" knowing the referee will stop play. Seem to remember Porteous doing it against Hearts at ER I think.

Goalies also get ridiculous protection, they just need to fall over and they get a free kick.

[Lago]

Do what they do in rugby, carry on playing while the physio/ trainer whatever comes onto the pitch
Like that idea 👍

[MikeyS]

Breaking up play is almost endemic now and we are at it as well, almost every corner or free kick nowadays there's a defender going down with a "head knock" knowing the referee will stop play. Seem to remember Porteous doing it against Hearts at ER I think.

Goalies also get ridiculous protection, they just need to fall over and they get a free kick.

Porto is one of the "best" in the league at it so we cannae really moan that much in my opinion.