The Fans Football Blog3

author: Matt Scott
source: The Observer
date: 22 February 2009
editing: fcbtransfers.blogspot.com





In the week when the Allen Stanford scandal led to widespread accusations of cricket 'selling its soul for cash', football authorities have come under fire for plotting to extend the half-time interval in matches, apparently for commercial reasons.

Several changes will be discussed next weekend at a meeting of football's law-making body, the International Football Association Board. The most controversial of these is the addition of five minutes to the half-time break. The proposal for a 20-minute interval has been put forward by Fifa, the world governing body, who say they are concerned that players and referees have no time for rest at some stadiums after walking to the dressing room.

There is, however, another consideration. The scope for Fifa to generate additional revenue from the extra five minutes is clear, especially as the next World Cup, in South Africa in 2010, will take place in a time zone suited to football's most developed broadcast markets: the UK, Spain, Italy, France and Germany.

Fifa's contention that it is taking footballers "much of the current 15-minute half-time interval" to get to and from their dressing rooms was rejected as "nonsense" by Malcolm Clarke, chair of the Football Supporters' Federation. "If it is primarily for commercial reasons most supporters will be against it," he said. "It used to be 10 minutes years ago, then 15. Where will it end?"

Other talking points will include the use of video technology for goal-line decisions, the introduction of a fourth substitute for games that go to extra time and a clarification on when players are deemed to be active under the offside law. Plans to use goalline cameras were rejected by Fifa's representatives on the International Board at last year's meeting in Scotland but the item has returned to the agenda.

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