Ex-Premier League referee salutes experiment as Liverpool ‘nonsense’ may be stamped out
A new experiment could be introduced in the Premier League to stamp out “nonsense time-wasting” by Liverpool and other clubs, according to Keith Hackett.
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the ex-Fifa and Premier League referee delivered his verdict after news from the USA.
MLS Next Pro announced last week (7 July) that if a player is on the ground for more than 15 seconds medical staff can assist them off the field where they must stay for three minutes to receive treatment.
There are exemptions including head injuries, cardiac issues and other serious medical incidents.
MLS Next Pro, America’s third-tier, comes under the jurisdiction of Howard Webb.
The Telegraph reported last month (25 June) that the 50-year-old is set to replace Mike Riley nad become the next head of the PGMOL.
“First of all, I really like it and I’ve often thought this should happen,” Hackett told Football Insider‘s Connor Whitley.
“It will stop this nonsense of time-wasting, time-delaying tactics and people claiming that they are injured when they are not. It’s great on the face of it, and I’m really for it.
“However, 15 seconds in the life of Christian Eriksen comes to mind. Therefore, this is my worry.
“These are rare occurrences. You don’t want the medical team on a serious injury counting down the clock at 15 seconds, that’s what happens.
“In principle, I’m really for it in general injuries that can be treated off the field of play. I think it’s a deterrent that’s worthy of experiment.
“I still want it to go ahead and then I’d want some degree of training and agreement between the referees and pandemics to how they are going to act.
“The other thing is, a player is hurt and shunted off after a tackle that receives a yellow card. The team that has offended have gained an advantage by having their opponents down to 10 men.
“At the moment, the advice to referee’s is that when a player is injured and a sanction is given, he can be treated on the pitch in a reasonable amount of time. I would like that to stay.”
In other news, Kieran Maguire has revealed Liverpool FFP status is now in doubt after a “ludicrous” Uefa rule change.