REFEREES TO RULE ON INJURY STOPPAGES

The Premier League has asked players, managers and referees to end the custom of the ball being kicked out of play when a player goes down injured.

Decisions on whether a break in play is necessary for treatment to be received will now be taken by the referee.

"There was a general feeling that this player-led convention had gone too far," Premier League spokesman Dan Johnson told BBC Sport. But the Football League told BBC Sport it had no plans to make changes.

The custom has gradually established itself in football over the years, but has never been formalised in the rules. But the feeling that this "gentlemen's agreement" was being taken advantage of has become widespread, with frequent breaks in play at the 2006 World Cup cited as the most high-profile abuse.

Managers and players complained of situations where the ball was kicked out for non-existent injuries in order to stop a team's attacking momentum.

*Of course the obvious thing to do would be to ensure any player requiring treatment – providing it wasn't the result of a foul - to have to spend a minimum 2 minutes off the pitch. The play-acting would soon cease.