Injuries ruining the World Cup
Posted by DavidM in World Cup | 7 July 2006
When the change in the law on treating injured players was introduced, the idea was to stop the game being held up. But it's not being applied properly and players are still taking advantage.
The injured player is supposed to be taken from the field and treated, leaving his team a man down while he recovers. This particularly discourages players from feigning injury to waste time.
However, I've noticed in the World Cup that players are getting treatment on the pitch, then being made to walk off only to come straight back on again. What's the point of that? The game is still held up and there is no disincentive for play-acting.
If a player goes down and appears to need treatment then the stretcher should be brought on, the player carried off, play resumed and the player treated on the sidelines. Rare exceptions should be made where it appears to be a serious head injury.
Either that or get rid of the rule that they have to leave the pitch, it's just ridiculous.
