European player licence

Mr_Roger_Bongos

I, like most other football fans, am sick of watching players (which includes the players of the club i support) diving to win decisions, complaining with the referee over perfectly valid decisions and generally acting like stroppy women on the pitch. This used to a be a real man's sport, now it's scorned as the nancy boy's game!

A couple of years ago the Brescia coach Carlo Mazzone voiced the idea of a 'European Player License', to stamp out diving in the game.

This would entail each professional player in Europe being issued a footballing license. Points would be applied to the license for the standard yellow cards and sendings off, but would also include; blatant diving, off the ball incidents and other infringements which would be verified post-match using video technology and a review panel (employed by the football association in each country).

The effects of this would be, for example, if a player accumulates 5 points for infractions, they are suspended for 1/2/3 games. Obviously a sending off would be an automatic 5 points, but avoiding specifics of point allocation, the system seems fairly sound.

I think it's a brilliant idea as managers wouldn't want players picking up points on the license because they'd miss matches, and nothing can hide from the cameras these days with all the angles.

Diving's sometimes difficult to judge, but the panel would decide and obviously it would only be in cases where they could prove no contact was made and that the wrong decision was given (also for off the ball-incidents). It would help referee's handle players on the pitch and wouldn't interrupt the flow of a game.

Also, decisions could be reversed e.g. Player doesn't dive, ref gives 2nd yellow against him. Would work to the referees advantage, because anything they get wrong the panel would correct.

I'd be interested in peoples views on this.

KdjaCL

I blame TV if it wasnt for TV we wouldnt know they were diving.

Horrible to see a player diving but tbh in the top leagues theres a lot to be gained from a free or peno in a crucial match. A non FA licence wouldnt help as im sure its fairly illegal as it restricts trade.


Also other side of the coin is if a player is booked for diving when he didnt, does get a minus point? Still gets the Real yellow card.

kdjac

leninbenjamin

sounds like a great idea, but almost guaranteed to be a no go while Blatter holds the FIFA spot.

edit: kdjacl, i don't see how a license would be seen as to restrict trade? it's a not a license to practice football per se.

Mr_Roger_Bongos

KdjaCL wrote: »

Horrible to see a player diving but tbh in the top leagues theres a lot to be gained from a free or peno in a crucial match. A non FA licence wouldnt help as im sure its fairly illegal as it restricts trade.kdjac

Yes i can see the problems it would have where a player gets points for diving, people would say "the peno and the result shouldn't count", obviously the system would need ironed out, but it seems like a really good idea to assist referee's.

Not sure what you mean about trade? The license would be held by every player and managed by the fa's. It would be a UEFA directive and would have no implications for player movement, only behavioral discipline.

KdjaCL

UEFA wouldnt go for it so it would be an outside football thing restricting trade, Abelda was suing valencia for not playing him thus restricting his trade without reasoning, in EU court he would have won.


kdjac

Mr_Roger_Bongos

Why wouldn't UEFA go for it?

This would be imposed by the federation in each country, a disciplinary decision, like the match ban for 3 yellows or 1 red that operates at the minute.

A players own action's on the pitch would result in a disciplinary point(s), therefore he'd be 'restricting his own trade' and wouldn't have a legal case.

KdjaCL

Mr_Roger_Bongos wrote: »

Why wouldn't UEFA go for it?

This would be imposed by the federation in each country, a disciplinary decision, like the match ban for 3 yellows or 1 red that operates at the minute.

A players own action's on the pitch would result in a disciplinary point(s), therefore he'd be 'restricting his own trade' and wouldn't have a legal case.

Cos it relies on video refereeing to work.


kdjac

Mr_Roger_Bongos

Ah! Now i see why uefa wouldn't go for it! But it has no impact for EU law limiting players.

Yeah so i suppose the license idea would be a string to the bow of those arguing for video refereeing. Still seems like a great idea though! Wish some of the FA's would have the balls to implement it.

KdjaCL

well i made a complete arse of that merge

Mr_Roger_Bongos

Don't be too hard on yourself!

Is this thread for the rubbish bin? I'd be interested to get opinions on the license system.

KdjaCL

lol nope the merge was the 2 barca threads but this ehh somehow got merged with them, thankfully noone noticed.


kdjac

Mad_Max

Isnt a similar system already there i.e. Yellow card for simulation, rack the yellows get a ban!!

The only reason it doesn't work now is it needs better reffing. The same refs will do the same thing. Obviously your system would require someone to watch tapes etc , but sure a "license" isnt neccessary then. Just get someone to watch if they dive give em a yeller. But theres a can of worms once tv's get introduced. E.g

"While you were watching that vid did you also see the goal that was onside, did you see the yellow i got that i shouldnt have, did you see that horror tackle" etc etc.