Millwall boss gives his verdict on EFL changes to cut timewasting and ‘enhance amount of time ball is in play’

Millwall manager Gary Rowett has given his verdict on the EFL’s attempts to cut down on timewasting in the 2023-24 season.

The governing body say they are looking to “enhance the amount of time the ball is in play”.

A multi-ball system will be in use and the organisation add “match officials will also be taking a more robust approach to dealing with clear/deliberate actions that are impactful in delaying the restart of play, with players cautioned if they are guilty of delaying the restart of play or failing to respect the required distance at free-kicks”.

They added: “Supporters across the game will be familiar with the changes in relation to the calculation of additional time, with both the men’s World Cup in 2022 and women’s World Cup this summer adopting a variation of this approach.

“After the restart of play, a period of time – not less than 30 seconds – will be afforded for the player to be treated and they will not return to the pitch before this period has elapsed​. As always, the player’s return to the pitch requires the referee’s permission​ and may be delayed beyond 30 seconds if the phase of play is in the vicinity of the player looking to re-enter the pitch.​

“In circumstances where a player declines the physio, if a team-mate clearly delays or refuses to restart the game that team-mate will be issued a yellow card​. This will promote player safety, which is of paramount importance to the match officials, and act as a deterrent to players who request attention as a tactic to waste time or break the momentum of the game.”

There are certain exceptions including if a goalkeeper is injured, players from the same team have collided and need attention, a penalty has been awarded and the injured player will be the taker or a player is injured as the result of a physical offence for which the opponent is cautioned or sent off.

Rowett, the second longest-serving manager in the Championship, told the South London Press: “It will be fantastic to have one summer where nothing changes and people get used to what it is. I was sat in a managers’ meeting talking about the new offside rule and I didn’t even know there was a change – because it has changed every single summer it actually makes it more complicated.

“In theory the timewasting is a good thing but, in practise, people will just find a different way to manipulate it. They are saying if players go down they will have to go off for 30 seconds. I’m thinking ‘people will let the goalkeeper go down, because he doesn’t need to go off’.

“I don’t think you’re ever going to stop that. I think everyone wants to see a little more time played but whatever you do, it is going to have to be managed. That was my message in those meetings – that if we say what we’re going to do then we just need to do it. I think everyone would be behind that. There is nothing more frustrating from a manager’s perspective then when we say we’re going to do something and it’s done for the first two matches and then after six matches we’re not doing it anymore.

“Things like touchline behaviour and player behaviour towards officials, we all want to see that cleaned up a little bit and be a bit more respectful but without taking the passion out of the game, which is why we all love it. There is a fine balance but we want it to be better, if we can.”

The EFL have also said “a high threshold for penalising contact will remain, with officials not awarding a foul for all contact yet penalising when contact has a detrimental impact on an opponent”.

Rowett responded: “We had this issue last year. We played Sheffield United and Coops went up for a header from a goal-kick and the lad has blatantly fouled him – they’ve ended up through on goal and scored.

“Our argument was that there was minimal contact but it’s this contact with consequence. I’m a bit old-fashioned – a foul is a foul. Contact has always been part of the game and it always comes down to not how much contact – is it a foul or is it not a foul? We were arguing last year about what type of contact is a foul. It is different from referee to referee, which is understandable. But if we’re not careful then sometimes we make it more complicated.

“It will be interesting to see how those rules play out. But the referees’ association seem to be wanting to have more clarity and engagement. I thought you saw that with Howard Webb on Sky Sports last year – trying to explain some of the decisions. I genuinely think that is a good thing. Let’s see if we can support them to make things a little clearer and precise.”