Can football's three key flaws be improved?

My biggest gripe is the wasting of time by players. Players do it cause they can effectively waste 10-15 mins of playing time, with the ref only adding on 3 or 4. An analysis of real playing time of matches shows only about 60-70 mins is active play time. The rest is time when the ball is out of play, players are getting treatment, the ref is talking to players etc. But refs only add about 3-4 mins injury time. What astonishes me mos is that this issue is easily fixed. Have a time keeper like in AFL where time on and off means there is no advantage in faking an injury etc.

Abuse is a straight forward issue to resolve - unfortunately referee's are given directives to show a degree of leniency on the issue. This is where the problem lies. Players continue to push the boundaries because they think they can escape punishment. In junior football in Australia there is a zero tolerance stance on referee abuse, and as a result, the number of incidences is greatly decreased - not to say that it doesn't still happen. When players do use foul language or gestures towards officials, they are sent for an early shower, simple. However if this same standard was applied at a professional level (as it should be), teams would be finishing the match with few if any players on the pitch. FFA should send a memo to all clubs telling them that abuse will not be tolerated and the punishment will be enforced. Once a few players are suspended, others will learn that they need to clean up their act. The same method can be applied to time wasting. YC players early in the game when they start wasting time, don't wait until the 88th minute to do so.

I haven't had time to read all the comments in response to this article, and many of you may have already touched on these points: 1) I think diving could be solved if administrators showed some courage and punished offenders post game. There is currently a regulation in place for this to happen, though it is very rarely enforced. Until this happens players will continue to exploit the system. On field punishment of a YC is not sufficient, as a single YC has no tangible effect (I will leave the YC & RC punishment process debate for another time, though I think a time expulsion system would work far better, a la rugby). Giving a player a RC for diving is not an option, as if the referee gets it wrong we are in a worse position than we started. Not sure if you watch any Real matches Scorpio, though referee's have a very hard time as it is, and are regularly mobbed by players after making minor decisions. Handing out red cards for diving would exponentially increase the tension. 2) Regarding video technology, captains should not be able to challenge the decisions of the referee. As we have seen in cricket, the referral system is a farce with players challenging virtually every decision. Although the umpires are usually found to be correct, it greatly detracts from the sporting philosophy of respecting the officials decision - what kind of a message does this send to younger players watching the game. They must think it is the right thing to challenge umpires. Officiating the game should be left entirely in the hands of those paid to do so. I am not suggesting that technology should not be incorporated. With controversial decisions (such as Berisha penalty in GF last year, or where a player goes down behind play), video replay's should be used, though ONLY when requested by the on field referee. Sometimes a referee simply cannot get a decent view of the action, and if he is not sure he can simply request a review of the play - this can be done by the 4th official who is watching a monitor set up on the sideline. 3) Finally, upper management at clubs like to be seen to take action when the club is not meeting on field expectations. Firing the coach is usually the easy option, and sometimes it is warranted (Crook at Sydney), though in my opinion, lack of coaching prowess is usually a cover story for far deeper systematic problems within an organisation. I am going to state that I am a Brisbane Roar fan before I use them as an example. Dobson, who is the GM at Roar has stated that Mulvey could be shown the door if certain goals are not reached before season end; these being qualifying for ACL and reaching final 6. In both circumstances, Mulvey's coaching ability has very little tangible impact on outcomes. AP was very astute when building his squad at Brisbane, he signed players who were hungry for first team football and had a lot to prove. EP, Berisha and Broich were all prime examples, and performed exceptionally. Where as in the recent off-season, upper management signed numerous players to long term contracts - wrong move. My friend reminded me of a famous Wayne Bennett quote recently, "If something is not broken, break it up". Seems to speak volumes in this situation. Why are Wenger and Ferguson so successful, they develop youth and constantly refresh their squads. Brisbane players have nothing to prove, it is a cultural problem. Nothing that Mulvey can fix in the short term. Turn the players over and start with a clean slate. Let Mulvey get on with the job.

The feigning injury issue is one that has driven me to the point of madness watching the victory play in the Asian Champions League. I would like to see football follow other sports such as AFL in which if a player comes off on a stretcher he is not allowed to return to the field for the remainder of the quarter. The same premise could be applied to football with a player having to sit out the remainder of the half if they are stretchered off or incapacitated for a certain amount of time. This would greatly dissuade players from doing this as it would force their team to make a sub or play the rest of the half/game with 10 men

"These three factors need to be addressed if football is to really claim its place as the number one sport in the world. " Was ready to debate your points until reading this last sentence. Had you said "Äustralia" then you may have demonstrated cogent thought worthy of that debate, but now you're just being silly.

You are spot on, Ben. I'm happy to have referees assisted by any electronic, or other, device IF - and ONLY IF- the device provides instantaneous information to the referee & it is reliable.

Good point Towser

Hi Scorpio - I'm with Fuss on this one. "These three factors need to be addressed if football is to really claim its place as the number one sport in the world." It already IS the number one sport in the world. Whether you personally happen to like it or not. And this is a statement coming from a guy whose main sporting preference isn't the world game either (it's cricket). But yeah, even die-hard football fans would agree that attempts to influence the ref's decision-making by potentially making an injury-related fuss ("diving" or seemingly miraculous recoveries after writhing on the pitch) are irritating. Solution? Post-match video reviews and a simple one-match ban. Video replays for the goal line? I am still, still, very hesitant, as Fuss has been (from memory) unless the technology is instant and reliable. The extra officials UEFA have put behind the goal line in my opinion is, at this point, at least better than nothing. The whole coach fired thing, well, some would say that its results-driven competition. And, er, it predominantly...is. I trust you continue to find your way nevertheless into enjoying the world's most popular sport - and one that I too have come to admire and appreciate.

Iangou "It is such a bad look and a real turn off, particularly in this country, to see players rolling around on the floor after the slightest tap. To be strechered off the ground, only to come back running on after a few seconds." This I dont get. It doesn't happen in Australia if it does its rare. Australians in my experience of following football here dont feign injury so why is it a turn off. If I see a Chinese or MIddle East player rolling around in mock agony,I relate it to the Chinese or Middle Eastern player acting like a ponce,because its not frowned upon in their culture too do so. I dont relate it to Australians or indeed the sport of football. Nor do Australian players. I have seen quite often Australian players expressing their disdain for such practices since we've been part of the AFC.

Scorpio, you may find the handball hit squad go after you for criticising their favourite sport but I think the issues you have raised have some merit. Issue One – It is a problem. Not because it happens more than it does in other sports but because a dive can change the game more than it does in other sports. I would tackle this issue by introducing a video review system, rubbing players out for taking a dive or for continually going down too easy. The problem with giving an on field red card is that if you get it wrong then it is a huge penalty for someone whose only crime was getting fouled. Issue Two – Video replays only work where decisions are relatively black and white. A tennis ball is either in or out. A cricketer either hits it or doesn’t hit it. Therefore you could introduce goal line technology for the Lampard WC situation but it would be impossible to do so for penalties or free kicks. Take last year’s A-League grand final and us football fans, having had 6 months of reviewing it, are still divided as to whether it is a penalty. Issue Three- That’s sport.. results count The two issues that I would like to see tackled are Stopping players abusing referees. It is not so much what they say but the way they surround a referee and even touch a ref after a decision. This is something that needs to be addressed with yellow cards or other sanctions. A rugby style rule stating that only the captain can speak to the ref would be a good start. Secondly like Fuss says “feigning injury” is a big issue. I would like to see anyone who has to be taken off on a stretcher or who holds the game up to be treated to have to spend a good 5 minutes off the pitch. This is to make sure they are okay and secondly to stop this type of behavior. It is such a bad look and a real turn off, particularly in this country, to see players rolling around on the floor after the slightest tap. To be strechered off the ground, only to come back running on after a few seconds.

"These three factors need to be addressed if football is to really claim its place as the number one sport in the world. " In which alternate universe(certain parts of Australia perhaps?) do you inhabit where Football isn't already the undisputed number 1 sport in the world? Don't like it, don't watch it. Football is undergoing a boom period in Australia, there's plenty of room for new fans right now, but don't complain if you look up in 5 years and 'the hot new thing to be at' is the A-League and you missed out in getting in on the mezzanine level/first floor - we are surely already above the ground floor:)

The way I see it is unless it is a 100% blatant out and out dive there is very little that can be done. Example was the other week Jets v Sydney FC, Ryan Griffiths barely had any contact from Ryan Grant but there was some, there is no way there was enough for a fit young man like him to fall over from it (other sports make light contact but its not in their interest to fall over), down he went and bam, penalty. That to me is diving but the ref is in an impossible position, he has to give the penalty.

Problems 1 & 2 could be solved together with a video. Rather than red cards there should be an AFL style tribunal system so that players serve any suspensions they deserve. That way even if you con the referee you would be caught by the video. The other issue which I never understand is why not bring in the rule of no substitutions after the 80th minute. Stop wasting everyone's time with subs to waste time. Your final issue is a bit silly. Football is a world game with different cultural influences. In Italy they replace their PM quicker than Germany and you can't expect their coaches to be different. One of the highlights of football is the different mentalities of different teams and coaches. These aren't just manufactured differences like BBL teams they are real.

"Nothing worse than seeing a team get a break and someone, Burns, Reid, or whoever chops someone down. It ruins the spectacle. Red card should follow just as it does in the last man situation. This would add further excitement to the game and much bigger issue than diving" Eamonn back you up 100% on this. It does ruin the spectacle. If the defender has to resort to a crude tackle anywhere on the pitch ,it indicates one thing ,the attacking player by way of skill, speed of thought has got the better of them. So a player receives the ball close to the touchline(either) starts to fly down the wing, I'm on my feet the movement as a whole is forward towards the opposition goal.he skips past the defender with tight control & a feint,Mustiatto does the chop. I feel deflated as a fan & the onrushing McRisha in the centre was denied the possible perfect cross resulting in a headed goal. Is this any different to a player breaking free just inside or outside the box & being brought down crudely by the last defender or the goalie as such? In both instances there is or is not the chance of a goal & the spectator is robbed of seeing his or her team scoring a possible legitimate goal. This is just one example of "Spectator robbery' I'm sure we could nut out many others,which are 10 times more detrimental to the sport of football in a pure sense than the 3 flaws mentioned.

Do you want to see the silky skills of Del Piero or do you want to see a hard, physical scrap? I know that I watch football for the silky skills and creativity and NRL/AFL for the physical scrap. Sure enough defenders will be very wary of going in hard on Del Piero around the edge of the area, this will allow him to use his sublime footwork to create goals and chances. It's an intriguing battle between physical football and skillful football, there needs to be that balance. Diving can become a problem in the area because it forces the ref to make a call that can win or lose a match, this is where I am happy to have a MRP retro-spectivley handing out punishment for diving.

Thought ADP milked the foul or dived after a gentle push in the 93rd minute yesterday? Is he a cheat? No! Unlike many players ADP headed to goal in the 93 minute when nearly all, bar Terry Antonis - what was he doing - head to the corner. ADP in heading for goal forced a contact, and turned it into a foul. Crafty, great play and gave him another dangerous free kick opportunity. Not sure there is as much diving as some make out. Given the number of games it's not a big issue in my view. Rather see players booked and sent-off for arguing and swearing at the ref. and the Professional Foul should be punished all over the park. Nothing worse than seeing a team get a break and someone, Burns, Reid, or whoever chops someone down. It ruins the spectacle. Red card should follow just as it does in the last man situation. This would add further excitement to the game and much bigger issue than diving.

I'm with Fuss here Scorpio. I'd suggest that if the 3 points mentioned are whats stopping you from watching football then you dont really "get it". However lets address them because two of them "Annoy me"using the word demeaning I personally find ludicrous. FIrst of all diving. Having grown in in a football culture where there was no diving ,I believe it has no place in football. However I am also realistic enough to realise that once football became the property of the world,the cultural football norms that I grew up with were the minority. Unfortunately the majority on the planet have no truck with a bit of 'Hoodwinking the ref."Facts are that the governing body FIFA recognises that & bows to that majority regarding its decisions. On that score local competitions through refs & administration can reflect their disdain of diving best they can. I believe the A-League does that very well,so why are you bothered about overseas football? Whilst we can blame FIFA for the lack of use of technology also(yes they are archaic at times,some would argue old fashioned),I believe that technology will be used in a limited form at the top professional level soon. However dont expect a technological football revolution,wont happen. As for coaches & owners,once again its the way the game has evolved as its spread around the world & countries coaches owners are interchangeable. Will have to completely do a complete U-turn to reverse that. Aint going to happen,unless the World economy collapses ,then were all in the food queues anyway.

Tristan I don't see diving as a major issue in football. I see time wasting by feigning injury to be a far bigger issue. But, players exaggerating body movement to con the match official occurs in any sport where there are sanctions for illegal body contact. In football, players will try to suggest they've been tripped; in AFL, they throw themselves forward/duck their head/throw themselves back to pretend there has been illegal contact. In football, if the ref thinks a player is trying to con him by diving, the player is given a YC; as far as I know, other sports don't sanction players for trying to con the match official. Given the significance of a foul inside the opposition's penalty box, I'd be happy for the FFA MRP to review every - I stress EVERY - episode of players being fouled, or claiming to be fouled, inside the opposition penalty box. If the MRP finds a player has dived - regardless of whether he received a penalty or not - I would issue an automatic 1 match ban. I'd also be happy for the MRP to review all illegal holding inside the penalty box, at corners & free kicks & issue 1 match bans for illegal holding that went unpunished. This way, during the match, in the back of every player's mind will be the thought that he'll be suspended if he transgresses.

What would you do about diving, if you had the reins, Fussball?

In the 21st century, the world of sport is open to every person on the planet at the click of a button. If people want to watch rugby, tennis, basketball, NFL, AFL, etc. they can watch these sports at the click of a button. If people don't like the way football is played, there are a multitude of other things they can do to pass their time - sports or non-sports related. Yet, football remains the most popular sport on this planet. In the absence of coercion - through threat or reward - logic suggests that consumers are happy with the product they're watching. Is the product perfect? Heck no. Will it ever be perfect? Heck no. Finally, in relation to the use of video technology, the author says: "Cricket, tennis and rugby are case examples where the introduction of technology has seen the overall quality of the respective sports increase" From what I gather, in relation to tennis, video technology is only used for matches played on the main court of Grand Slam tournaments. So, what happens for matches played on the outside courts? They have no video technology - are the matches of a lower quality? In relation to cricket, rugby, NRL, AFL ... all I read is whinging from journalists, commentators and fans who never seem to unanimously agree with the video referee's decision. Football is like life. Life ain't perfect. Life will never be perfect. Get used to it.