In reply to ‘BwB Fixit VI’, which was featured on July 29, Dundee fan Mark McDonald gave a detailed response.
This ‘Fixit’ highlighted players stealing yards at throw-ins.
Mark, of Balgillo Park, Broughty Ferry, said: “I was at Stark’s Park, Kirkcaldy, in July for the Dundee Betrfred Cup game against Raith Rovers.
“During the match, the ball went out of play for a Raith throw-in.
“The ball rolled down the trackside and one of the home coaching team took a ball out of the dugout (not the match ball) and threw it to one of his players to allow him to take a quick throw.
“The referee then blew his whistle and, instead, awarded the throw to Dundee.
“The Dundee player took it from the same position and play was allowed to continue.
“I don’t know if the infringement was awarded as the referee didn’t sanction another ball to be used. As the original ball wasn’t out of the ground, I imagined this was the reason.”
I contacted former Fifa referee Bob Valentine for his view of that incident.
Dundee-based Bob offered: “The original match ball should be used at all times if possible.
“The only occasions another ball should come into play is when the original goes out of the ground or loses air and becomes deflated in some way.
“The incident at Raith must have been deemed ungentlemanly conduct for seeking to gain an advantage by putting another ball into play quickly.
“The Dundee players would have been focused on the original ball, therefore Raith were deemed to seek an unfair advantage.”
Bob also gave his view on the original ‘Fixit’.
He continued: “The rules are simple.
“If the ball goes out of play for a throw-in, then the throw must be taken from the spot where the ball went out of play.
“Taken at any other place, even nearer your own goalkeeper, should be deemed ungentlemanly conduct and the throw awarded to the other team.
“It’s only in internationals and other big games that balls are positioned around the pitch ready to come on quickly to save time-wasting.”
Back to retired engineer Mark, and he let loose with another grievance.
He complained: “Another thing that annoys me is when a player kicks the ball out to allow an opposing player to receive treatment.
“The opposition take the throw but end up kicking it as far down the park as possible.
“I think they should be made to take the throw and kick it out at the original place where it was put out of play to allow the treatment of the injured player.”
I’m certainly of this view, too, as I reckon the referee only should determine when to stop a game when a player looks injured.
And the restart should be a drop ball — or an old-fashioned ‘stottie-up’, if you like!
If you have a story you’d like to share with John, email jbrown@dcthomson.co.uk.
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