Growing list of players and managers take issue with FA’s new rule changes ‘damaging the game’

A growing list of players and managers within English football already take issue with FA’s new rule changes ‘damaging the game.

Premier League, EFL and non league officials after adding World Cup-style amounts of injury-time to matches as part of directives for new season.

All but two matches in the English Football League opening weekend went beyond 100 minutes.

In terms of ball in play, the Premier League average for the 2022/23 season was 55 minutes, the Championship was three minutes fewer, League One came in at 50 minutes and League Two matches averaged just 48 minutes.

Manchester United’s Raphael Varane expressed fears about ‘dangerous’ player burn-out with a packed fixture schedule and longer matches.

He claims the Football Association ignored the concerns of players over fatigue at a meeting ahead of the new campaign.

Varane wrote: ‘We had a meeting last week with the FA. They recommended from the referees news decisions and rules.

‘From the managers and players, we have shared our concerns for many years now that there are too many games, the schedule is overcrowded, and it’s at a dangerous level for players’ physical and mental well-being.

‘Despite our previous feedbacks, they have now recommended for next season: longer games, more intensity, and less emotions to be shown by players.

‘We just want to be in good conditions on the pitch to give 100% to our club and fans. Why are our opinions not being heard?

‘As a player I feel very privileged to do the job I love every day but I feel these changes are damaging our game.

‘We want to be at our maximum level, the best we can be and put on amazing performances for fans to celebrate every week.

‘I believe it is important that we, players and managers, highlight these important issues as we want to protect the game we love and give the fans our best.’

Raphaël Varane has taken to Twitter to share his opinion on the FA’s new rule changes and says they are ‘damaging the game’.

— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) August 7, 2023

Manchester City’s Julian Alvarez, Arsenal midfielder Thomas Partey and manager Mikel Arteta were all booked in Sunday’s FA Community Shield at Wembley.

“It is really good to do that,” Arteta said on added time. “It was going too far and now teams are going to have to think twice. We have to prepare to play 100 minutes. It is going to happen every single week.”

On his yellow card, Arteta added: “I cannot change my behaviour in three days and I can’t say tomorrow that we play with no offsides and what is the linesman doing? I try my best.”

Man City boss Pep Guardiola also slammed the amount of added time after Arsenal got a late leveller in the 101st minute and went on to win on penalties.

Guardiola said: ‘We will have to get used to this. We were winning 1-0. I had a feeling that not much happened to extend eight minutes.

‘But it is a good question for the international board and all the people because they don’t consult with the managers, they don’t consult with the players.

‘We have to accept it. We have to do it. Now the games will be 100 minutes, that’s for sure. They extend for goals.

‘Every time you score a goal. (Imagine) a 4-3 and they put on 45 seconds for seven goals. Tomorrow morning at 8am we will still be here playing. Don’t ask me my opinion, please.’

🗣 “Now the games will be 100 minutes, that’s for sure.” ⏱️

Pep Guardiola admits frustration with the new rule changes being decided without any manager or player involvement pic.twitter.com/oAkix7xSOk

— Football Daily (@footballdaily) August 7, 2023

Dorking’s Jason Prior said on Sunday, the day after his side lost to Chesterfield late on: “This new added time rule madness needs addressing.

“94/95 minutes is hard enough on your body and is what everyone is used to. 20 minutes added time is a joke. Saturday/Tuesday that could be an extra half of football!

“clearly haven’t considered the impact on the players and the inevitable higher injury rate. If this is going to carry on, allowing 5 subs is a must. If it’s not broken, don’t TRY and fix it.

“It’s as simple as book anyone at any point in the game for obvious time wasting and go back to normal.”

Dorking boss Marc White said he had been unhappy with the amount of added-on time.

On five shown in the first and 13 in the second, he said as per DerbyshireTimes: “30 per cent of the second-half was added back on top, that is absolutely impossible to come to that conclusion.

“Player welfare is going to go down the drain.”

He hasn’t blamed the officials as they’re just being instructed by the FA but he doesn’t want football to become like basketball.

Joey Barton says: It’s the stupid yellow cards that cause me the most problems. We want our best players available all the time. Not suspended or running the risk of a red card for showing emotion. It’s the most emotive game, that’s why it’s loved across the globe.

Here’s what fans had to say as a growing list of players and managers take issue with FA’s new rule changes ‘damaging the game’…

@TheFergusonWay: You have just declared war against the @FA_PGMOL & the @FA and I’m completely here for it. We could see for ourselves how tough and demanding the fixtures were for us last season from the end of the World Cup to the end of April. Go on, Rapha.

@Birdiex94x: Stop time wasting and cheating by faking injuries every game and you won’t get all the added time, simple enough really. You’re paid multi millions

@TIMLEWIS1985: He’s got a point, there is only so much a human can do, irrespective of how much you pay them.

@BBQ_Penguin: He’s not wrong but at the same time it’s the reason you are literally paid hundreds of thousands of pounds per week.

@vikkiforbes2202: Sorry but no. They get paid millions. We as fans have to pay a fortune to follow our teams and we deserve 90 minutes of football, stop the time wasting, then you’ll play less. Also these teams have enough for 2 squads so gives more time to other players if managers rotate!

@NW_Marcus: 100 mins, of which the ball will only be in play for around 65 mins. I think the average ball in play last season was around 45-50 mins, so I back the new initiative as it gives paying fans more value for money.

@adamjharris93: Don’t waste time in games then there won’t be as much added time. Simple. Something needed to happen, whether this is the right way to do it remains to be seen but at least they’re looking at ways of getting more play time.

@CityzenAlex: He’s not wrong is he, really… But I do agree with this extra added time – it’ll eventually die down, players won’t time waste, as it’s literally pointless now – they won’t want 100 min matches, so the added time will drop. It’s a good move for the game

@rosspb: Lol well perhaps he should tell his teammates not to waste time, roll on the ground when not injured, take an age to walk off when substituted & hound & swear at the ref after every decision. Maybe then there wont be so much added time!!!

@HeatherGW92: Fans pay a lot of money to watch a game of football, they don’t pay to watch constant time wasting, this is a good idea.

@RFox55_: I see where he’s coming from but if players didn’t time waste we wouldn’t be this situation? The fact is fans pay our hard earned money to watch on average 50 mins of football and 40 mins of ball out play….. The players have brought this on themselves. I welcome these changes.

@DaveGGauntlett: Completely understand his concerns, but if players didnt dive and roll around every time they were blown on, these rules wouldnt be necessary…they are designed to stamp it out which is a good thing. Perhaps these superstars should start taking some ownership and responsibility

@Razzi365; 100% back Varane on this! The FA constantly makes empty gestures regarding the players’ well-being. It’s about time we actually took their mental and physical health into consideration rather than profits 📈.

@TinneyCFC89: I understand some of what he is saying but if players are wanting less games / game time are they going to accept less wages as well?

@JBDS__: I’m all for preventing injuries etc but this is rubbish. As a fan you pay to watch 90 minutes and you never ever get 90 minutes of play. Constant time-wasting, gamesmanship and so forth, maybe if you just didn’t do it the stoppage time wouldn’t be so much?

@JP296_: He’s speaking nothing but facts, The FA/FIFA think these players are robots with no emotion or immune from physical toll. Sports science is improving year by year, but all we’re going to see is more and more injuries and players retiring early with how things are going.

@Kkasir23: VAR and now the extra added on mins is removing the passion and emotion out of the game. Also, if you include goalkeepers unable to play “mind games” – they are again removing the mental aspect – emotion – out of the game. They are turning us all into robots. Destroying the game.

@RichWhalley21: Completely understand the issues with too many games especially that farcical nations league games, keep them at home instead of going on massive pre season tours, surely it can’t be good for their recovery constantly travelling

@MaxwellA98: He’s right. Too many games. The FA and UEFA been getting away with too much. They love lining their pockets and no one speaks up. It’s about time clubs and players said NO to the FA its their right to speak up when they feel unfairly treated.