Dropped-ball

[sinnott2spinnit]

Use in the modern game.

"This method of restarting play is rarely used in modern adult football as many players sportingly elect to kick the ball out of play when an event requiring the stoppage of play - most often an injury - occurs. After the situation has been resolved, the opposing team typically, but not always, concedes possession to the other team after returning the ball into play, as a gesture of good sportsmanship".

 

You can interpret this as you like, but having witnessed the incident last night, after O'Connor went down injured during time added on, I question the sportsmanship, or rather lack of it, that surounds the restart of play.

 

The Scunthorpe player in question was clearly instructed by the referee to return the ball to his own goalkeeper. Instead, when the ball was dropped to his feet, he decided to collect the ball and move forward into the Vale half. I believe at this point the referee should have stopped play, and returned the ball to the original place, and restarted the game by giving Vale the advantage. The referee, in my opinion, should have booked the Scunthorpe player for ungentlemanly behaviour.

 

Yes, you can call this sour grapes, but it did effect the outcome of the game. Seconds later, their goalkeeper took a free kick at least 10 yards further up the field from a foul by Daniel. I admit that this was deep into their half but the referee and the liner seemed to miss this. From the resulting free kick, which found its way down the right hand side of the field, a cross came in, they score.

 

The question is, do we revert back to the old style "bounce-up"? It's a free for all, but at least you know where you stand in such a situation.

[Robbie Earle's Perm]

The referee can only suggest what should happen, it's up to the integrity of the players concerned and we all know the vast majority have no integrity.

[melv]

Unsporting conduct or not ALL the Vale players should have been paying attention and concentrating 100%.Not standing on the line holding hand's,day dreaming,clock watching.

[andy jones]

It's a non contact sport so this so called sporting behaviour is typical.

 

Of course we need to overlook the conning, cheating, wasters who go down feigning injury in the first place.

 

For me good on the Scunny player if the Vale can't be bothered to contest a drop ball it serves them right.

 

If we returned to contesting drop balls you can bet the cheating con merchants won't be dropping like dead flies quite so often in the first place.