The Dortmund - Mönchengladbach game was a very close one today.
Not really related to BVB game, but there were two instances again that always drive me nuts. You see more and more players lying down on the pitch, because they are cramping. Anyone who had a cramp in their life knows, that it feels very bad (
), but nothing life-threatening and it will eventually go away fast. I have no problem with players cramping, but what brings out the devil in me, is, the referee interrupting play for that. Why in the world is it necessary to stop playing, just because someone is cramping ?! Football (and all of sports) has become very sophisticated and fitness is a huge part nowadays. All pro athletes spend a good amount of their time taking care of their bodies, lifting weights, eating healthy. So when a player cramps, this is part of the game and bad luck (and bad preperation). You don't stop the game, when a player is exhausted towards the end of the game and thus is not able to follow his opponent no more, because he is too slow.
People will now say, this is fair play. But it's in fact the opposite, because lots of players/teams take advantage of fair play for time wasting in the late stages of a game. They remain laid down on the pitch for minor injuries, pretend to be seriously injured, take ages to make a throw-ins/corners/goal kicks. You often see them holding banners before kick-off proclaiming fair play, but during the game they seem to forget about it.
I am ok with referees blowing the game dead for head injuries and what looks like serious injuries, but otherwise don't fall for these hypocrites. I always give a good laugh, when a player gets tackled and appears to be nearly dying on pitch. After realizing, that no foul is given and the ref and other players make no move to stop the game, he just gets up, as if nothing happened
Must be really embarrassing.
I will propose the following rule change: In the 80th minute, the ref announces the injury time and the game will finish exact there (90+X). From that point on, game clock stops for throw-ins, goal-kicks, free-kicks, goal celebration, substitutions, injuries etc. It would make the game fairer, substituted players can get their deserved standing ovations, goals can get celebrated extensively etc. The broadcasting would still be planable, as I would assume the games only lasting longer for like maybe 5 minutes on average.
And get rid of that yellow card rule for taking off your jersey after a goal. That is maybe the most stupid rule I ever saw ! Football needs emotions. If I want to see well behaving athletes, I can watch Snooker.