11/05/24
November 01, 2006
No talking back to refs: From next weekend new rules are to be introduced to stop rugby players questioning the ref's decision. Once a penalty has been awarded the opposing team must at once retreat 10m, if they do not then the penalty will be moved 10m forwards. The captain may only ask for clarification at the next stoppage.
It seems to work OK in Rugby League, but then fewer games are decided on penalty kicks. The same rule applies in football, but I have hardly ever seen it enforced. Arguing with the ref can take place at any time during football, not just at free kicks, I suppose. The worst thing that could happen is with a very strict rugby ref, a mid-field penalty suddenly becomes one within kicking range that ultimately decides the game. Yet another rugby match is spoiled by a technical infringement subject to a referee's discretion. The real weak link in turning rugby into a greater spectacle (tight five forwards please ignore that) .
posted by owlhouse at 01:39 PM on November 01, 2006
Well that's put paid to Thierry Henry's plans for football referees. Rugby's always seemed a very disciplined sport where little dissent or discussion is brooked already. Just how necessary is this measure? You only have to look at the kind of pathetic player behaviour in the Barca v Chelsea football game to see how much bigger the problem is in the world's favourite sport.
posted by squealy at 02:27 AM on November 02, 2006
It is becoming more of a problem squealy and I think this is probably aimed at stopping it before it gets any worse. But as always, it'll depend on the individual referees, and how they interpret the rules. Speaking of refs, did anyone catch the Leinster Edinburgh Heineken match? Where the ref went off for stitches and they stopped the game and waited till he game back. The two captains were not happy at having to wait around, especially O'Driscoll who made Sky Sports apologise for his language, it being picked up by the assistant refs microphones.
posted by Fence at 03:01 AM on November 02, 2006
they should have this in the nba
posted by Bill Lumbergh at 02:35 PM on November 02, 2006
According to the Grauniad, UEFA are thinking of introducing sin bins, in a bid to counter the kind of thing seen during the Chelsea - Barcelona game. And Bill, doesn't the NBA have the option of tech fouls? I heard they are cracking down this season.
posted by owlhouse at 06:44 PM on November 02, 2006
This article doesn't say this, but I'm sure I read elsewhere (offline) that even a gesture of dissent, such as throwing your hands into the air may be grounds for your team being penalised. So on the one hand I think it is a good thing, ensuring that the ref's word is final, I wonder are they maybe going a little too far? Guess we'll have to wait and see how this is implemented.