new rules

[fantstone]

i see the fa and all are to implement some new rules regarding player conduct and referees;
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/36844570
not before time in my opinion, but how's it going to work? i can see a lot of appeals coming up as it may be the case that refs start throwing reds about like confetti. should be an interesting start to the season if the conference is serious about putting these new rules into place.

 

[Sparrow]

No change really. The National League will still be reffing out the part-timers.

 

[Jemfy]

I don't think any of the rules are really new! They are just to be enforced again. Some are slight changes to old rules, some are rules that were forgotten.

The swearing at referees for an instant red card is definitely one I've seen before, I remember a game, against Chester I think it was, at Nene Park at the start of the season where a player got sent off for that. I think we saw about 2 more instances through the season, and we definitely saw players swear at referees more frequently than that, for some reason it was just not applied anymore and forgotten like it never happened.

Remember as the rules stand a yellow card cannot be appealed, except for in a case of mistaken identity I believe (though the second part might be wrong). The red card offences in that list were already red card offences I believe, just not enforced. To appeal you have to definitively prove that the offence didn't take place. There might be successful appeals in the premier league due to multitudes of camera angles so you can read players lips or find out that the wrong player was shown the card, but you won't get many successful appeals lower.

To be honest I just think these rules will largely be applied for a little bit and then forgotten, much like players were not generally getting carded for surrounding referees even though it crept back in.

The real danger is for clubs at lower levels with referees with different levels of tolerance. Those who want to make a name for themselves will make sure they apply the new rules, while those who are either softer or with more common sense may not do so, leading to more inconsistency than previously found.

 

[Steve_Wafc]

I've not heard it being mentioned about the National League, just the PL and FL. However if it does get implemented here and the refs follow it exactly, I'm just glad we don't have players like Dean Keates, Jay Harris (for many reasons), Neil Ashton and Andy Bishop etc any more!

 

[fantstone]

The real danger is for clubs at lower levels with referees with different levels of tolerance. Those who want to make a name for themselves will make sure they apply the new rules, while those who are either softer or with more common sense may not do so, leading to more inconsistency than previously found.

this is exactly what i was thinking, and where i can imagine some real problems arising. we all know that the refereeing at this level can sometimes leave a lot to be desired, it just seems a worry how this is going to be put into action. strormy times ahead possibly?

 

[fantstone]

I've not heard it being mentioned about the National League, just the PL and FL. However if it does get implemented here and the refs follow it exactly, I'm just glad we don't have players like Dean Keates, Jay Harris (for many reasons), Neil Ashton and Andy Bishop etc any more!

i'm pretty sure it applies to conference national, not sure about north and south though.

 

[Jemfy]

this is exactly what i was thinking, and where i can imagine some real problems arising. we all know that the refereeing at this level can sometimes leave a lot to be desired, it just seems a worry how this is going to be put into action. strormy times ahead possibly?

It just adds a factor of randomness to the early season games. After about half a season it should calm down and get a little more consistent as referees get direction from above on their application (or lack thereof) of the new rules.

Speaking of old rules that seem to have disappeared, when was the last time anyone saw a player get cautioned for crowd baiting? It is a practice which has been largely reduced, but I've definitely seen instances which have gone unpunished.

 

[Jemfy]

i'm pretty sure it applies to conference national, not sure about north and south though.

I *thought* it was a general FA rule governing all competitions over which the FA preside, meaning it affects everyone including us.

It would be insane if it wasn't as that would mean you could be playing by different rules in consecutive weeks with cup and league matches.

 

[Steve_Wafc]

Speaking of old rules that seem to have disappeared, when was the last time anyone saw a player get cautioned for crowd baiting? It is a practice which has been largely reduced, but I've definitely seen instances which have gone unpunished.

I read that as crowd biting..

You're definitely right though. The last time I saw it was when we lost 4-2 to Alfreton in the FA Cup a few seasons ago. Ben Tomlinson already on a yellow card, steps up to take a penalty and scores, he then wheels away in celebration in front of our stand with his hand by his ear.. Resulting in a second yellow card.

 

[Chris FGR]

We've had players sent off ridiculously for swearing incidents a couple of times, Andy Mangan for allegedly swearing at a linesman 50 yards away a few years back and Dale Bennett for supposedly swearing at an opponent! Not sure I like the idea of foul and abusive language being an automatic red, too many grey areas open to "interpretation" depending on who the ref is.

 

[Andy Harrier]

Speaking of old rules that seem to have disappeared, when was the last time anyone saw a player get cautioned for crowd baiting? It is a practice which has been largely reduced, but I've definitely seen instances which have gone unpunished.

Alex Woodyard was sent off against us last season for something like this. He was on the end of a 50-50 challenge with Luke Maxwell who got sent off, as Woodyard limped to the side with his physio. While he was stood next to the linesman he turned and made a gesture to a Harriers fan who was being a little vocal. The assistant then brought this to the attention of the referee who then gave Woodyard a straight red.