EXCLUSIVE: Players want to be given in-game updates on injury time

Posted on

Premier League stars want to be given in-game updates by referees on injury time length amid concerns over longer matches causing greater injury risk

  • Players want to be kept updated throughout games on proposed stoppage time
  • There are concerns from players over a greater risk of injury in longer matches
  • CHRIS SUTTON: Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta is a CLOWN – It’s All Kicking Off

Premier League players want referees to provide in-game guidance about the amount of injury time to be added during matches amidst concerns about the greater risk of injury caused by longer games. 

Chelsea’s extraordinary 4-1 win over Tottenham on Monday featured over 21 minutes of added time, including 12 at the end of the first half, while the amount of stoppage time played in all Premier League games this season has increased to an average of 11 minutes and 35 seconds per-game from 08:27 minutes last season.

Under the current convention players are only made aware of the amount of time to be added on when the fourth official raise their board towards the end of each half, which many feel makes it hard for them to manage their effort and workload. 

The issue has been flagged to the PFA by representatives at several clubs, although it has yet to be raised with refereeing body PGMOL. 

Coincidentally PFA chief executive Maheta Molongo and chair Omar Beckles had a meeting with PGMOL boss Howard Webb last week to discuss other refereeing issues.

Premier League players want referees to provide in-game guidance about the amount of injury time to be added

Chelsea’s extraordinary 4-1 win over Tottenham on Monday featured over 21 minutes of added time

Players are currently only made aware of the amount of time to be added on when the fourth official raises their board towards the end of each half

Your browser does not support iframes.

The amount of added time played has exploded this season after the Premier League opted to implement new protocols first used at the World Cup last year, when FIFA instructed referees to clamp down on time-wasting. 

Stoppage time in the Premier League has increased gradually each season from an average of 05:43 minutes-per-game during the 2006/7 season, but the three-minute increase at the start of this campaign is by far the biggest rise over a 12-month period.

As a result the length of time the ball is in play has also increased significantly, from an average of 54:52 minutes last season to 58:32 over the first 110 matches of this campaign, a change which is likely to have implications for players’ workloads and fitness levels.

Kevin de Bruyne and Virgil van Dijk are among many leading players who have complained about being forced to play longer matches this season, with the Manchester City midfield player saying that the changes don’t ‘make any sense.’

The PFA conducted a survey of lower division players last month about the increase in stoppage time played this season, with 60 per cent of 100 players surveyed saying they felt the changes would lead to more injuries.

IT’S ALL KICKING OFF! 

It’s All Kicking Off is an exciting new podcast from Mail Sport that promises a different take on Premier League football.

It is available on MailOnline, Mail+, YouTube, Apple Music and Spotify.

Your browser does not support iframes.

Source: Read Full Article