Raphael Varane fears new stoppage time rules could harm players

Manchester United defender Raphael Varane has added his voice to the criticism of English football’s new approach to stoppage time and fears the rule changes could harm players.

From this season onwards, referees in the Premier League and EFL will adopt a more stringent, Qatar World Cup-style approach to added time, with the clock stopped for all goal celebrations, substitutions, injuries, penalties and red cards.

That saw enormous amounts of stoppage time in Qatar and that trend has continued in the EFL, with 33 of 35 matches on the opening weekend lasting longer than 100 minutes.

The Community Shield Followed a Similar Pattern

Sunday’s Community Shield between Arsenal and Manchester City followed a similar pattern, with eight minutes of added time at the end of the second half – though this extended until the 103rd minute due to a clash of heads.

The average ball-in-play time in matches has already increased dramatically – which was part of the motivation for changing the rules – but Varane believes the welfare of players has been overlooked.

Varane’s Complaints

‘We had a meeting last week with the FA. They recommended from the referees new decisions and rules,’ wrote Varane – who retired from international duty citing players’ increased workloads as a reason – on social media.

‘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 condition 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.’

Pep Guardiola’s Response

Varane’s complaints echoed those of City manager Pep Guardiola following his side’s penalty shootout defeat to Arsenal at Wembley in which Leandro Trossard netted an equaliser in the 11th minute of stoppage time.

‘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,’ said the Spaniard. ‘Imagine a 4-3 and they put on 45 seconds for seven goals. Tomorrow morning at 8am we will still be here playing.’

The Impact on Player Safety

The introduction of these new rules has been met with criticism from many in the footballing world who fear that it could have a negative impact on player safety. The longer matches mean that players will have to endure more intense physical activity which could lead to an increased risk of injury.

The increased intensity could also lead to fatigue which could affect a player’s performance. This could result in a poorer quality of football being played and could lead to an overall decrease in the entertainment value of matches.

The FA have implemented these changes in an effort to increase the amount of ball-in-play time in matches but it appears that they have overlooked the potential risks that these changes could have on players.

Conclusion

The new stoppage time rules have been met with criticism from many in the footballing world who fear that it could have a negative impact on player safety. Players such as Raphael Varane have voiced their concerns about the changes and believe that their opinions are not being heard. It remains to be seen whether or not these changes will have a positive or negative effect on the game but it is clear that player safety should be taken into account when making such decisions.