EFL to use fans to test a radical new countdown plan to stop time wasting

FANS in stadiums will be invited to take part in a “five-second countdown” before time-wasting goalkeepers give away a throw-in or corner kick.

The radical trial could be used in the lower divisions of the EFL or the Football League Trophy from next season after it was backed by the game’s governing body, the International FA Board.

Although the introduction of sin bins in professional football has been put on the back burner following a global backlash, Ifab leaders at their annual general meeting in Loch Lomond believe their latest idea will help reduce time wastage.

The current six-second rule, which is rarely penalized, is extended to eight seconds, but the referees then hold their hands up and count down to zero with five seconds left.

FA chief executive Mark Bullingham said: “So often we see the goalkeeper holding the ball for five or six seconds at 0-0 and then when they are 1-0 up they suddenly hold it for 25 seconds.

“That’s not right and people get frustrated.

“As soon as the goalkeeper has control of the ball and the referee raises his hand for the five-second countdown, you see the crowd react and so do the other players.

“In terms of how you give possession to the other team, the protocols discussed are a throw-in in line with the penalty spot or a corner.

“There are pros and cons for both. They are still working on that, but both will be tried.”

Other tests available from July 1 will see only captains allowed to speak to referees and the use of ‘cooling off’ periods, where feuding players are sent back to their respective penalty boxes until tempers have calmed.

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Asked whether that would spark discussions with the EFL and other leagues about introducing any of the ideas next season, Bullingham added: “I’m sure we will.

“We haven’t reached that point yet but I expect some players will be looked at at the lower levels of English football.

“What level we will look at is an open discussion, I am sure we will have that discussion with the relevant competitions.

“It is clear that we are not aiming for the top two leagues in any country. But we have so many options in England.”

The meeting took place hours after FIFA president Gianni Infantino issued a “red card to blue cards” as a way of identifying sin bins.

But Ifab leaders insisted they will not turn their backs on the sin-bin principle, even if it will be purely for dissent and not, as previously suggested, cynical ‘action-football-action’ offences.

Basic level trials will continue ahead of a possible future expansion.

Bullingham added: “We have focused on the area that is easier, which is dissent and encouraging referees to get into the game.

“It’s something that affects 90 percent of the game at all levels.

“The cynical wrong aspect is subjective and that makes its application potentially more difficult. Let’s get the sin bins in order first and then see if there is a broader application.”

Changes for next season will see the option of permanent concussion substitutions in the rules, as well as red cards for defensive handballs in the penalty area that deny scoring opportunities.

The Premier League and PFA have called for a trial of temporary concussion substitutions and Bullingham admitted: “Permanent substitutions are positive and there are medics who say this means there is no risk of an injured player being sent back onto the field .

“We operate in an environment where different opinions are expressed. English football believes that temporary substitutions are worth testing at some point, but we have made great strides forward.”