New rule

[jbc.shrimp]

Is it a new rule that if a player goes down for no apparent reason that the game is stopped, the ref goes to see what's wrong, no physio is called on and the player gets up and carries on. The game then re-starts withe ref dropping the ball. Happened three times at Crawley today. Surely if a player goes down without being fouled he should have to leave the field of play until called back or be cautioned for stopping the game by simulation.

[Westgate Wanderer]

It's just a new way of trying to waste time. If it looks like a head injury the ref is obliged to stop the game, Colchester were at it last week too.

[Keith]

It is ridiculous that a player who is genuinely injured, has to leave the field of play for 30 seconds, yet someone holding their head to get play stopped, can then jump up and carry on. I can understand the refs being instructed to stop play for an apparent head injury, but perhaps the play acting would stop if the ref automatically brought the physio on 'to assess the injured player' and they had to go off for 'a minimum of 30 seconds'? Crawley actually did it more than three times. On at least another two, the player holding his head realised they'd regained possession, so suddenly jumped back to their feet and started playing again.

[jbc.shrimp]

It is ridiculous that a player who is genuinely injured, has to leave the field of play for 30 seconds, yet someone holding their head to get play stopped, can then jump up and carry on. I can understand the refs being instructed to stop play for an apparent head injury, but perhaps the play acting would stop if the ref automatically brought the physio on 'to assess the injured player' and they had to go off for 'a minimum of 30 seconds'? Crawley actually did it more than three times. On at least another two, the player holding his head realised they'd regained possession, so suddenly jumped back to their feet and started playing again.

Keith, it could be longer than 30 seconds if the player had to go to the technical area before being allowed back on.

[cragbankshrimp]

Easy answer, carry on playing. It will soon stop. It's the same with the winning teams players going down with cramp, you never see a player from the losing side have the same problem

[Keith]

Easy answer, carry on playing. It will soon stop. It's the same with the winning teams players going down with cramp, you never see a player from the losing side have the same problem

I think head injury is different, as the sport is much more aware of concussion and the problems associated with it. There is an entire concussion pathway now. But, if a player needs the game to be stopped, then their 'concussion' shouldn't be assessed by the referee. If a player just has a painful whack to the head, then they can sit up, demonstrating that they don't need the game to be stopped.