Raphael Varane Speaks Out: Critiquing Football Officials for ‘Game-Destroying’ Decisions and Questioning the Voice of Players

RAPHAEL VARANE has criticized the FA over recent rule revisions that will allow Premier League referees to extend games’ durations.

By following the example established by the 2022 World Cup, which saw lengthy additions of time become the norm, the new set of rules aims to reduce time wastage.

Varane, however, has turned to Twitter to voice his, as well as other players, concerns over the number of mandatory games that footballers are required to play.

In the cutting statement, he charges that the FA is “damaging the game” and that “players are not being heard.”

We had a meeting with the FA last week, he tweeted. They suggested that the referees make new rulings and regulations.

“For many years, the managers and players have expressed their concerns about the excessive number of games, the packed schedule, and the damage it poses to the players’ physical and emotional health.

“Despite our earlier criticisms, they have now suggested that the players display less passion and play longer, more intense games in the upcoming season. To give our club and supporters our all on the field, we just want to be in top physical shape. Why aren’t our views being heard?

“As a player, I consider it a great gift to get to work every day doing what I love, but I believe these changes are hurting our game. Every week, we strive to perform at the pinnacle of our abilities and provide our fans breathtaking shows.

“I think it’s critical that we, as players and managers, bring these critical issues to light in order to safeguard the game we love and provide the fans with the best experience possible.”

The end of last month saw the announcement of new rules, which might result in games lasting more than 100 minutes on a regular basis.

The women’s World Cup in Australia has featured longer games because any match interruptions virtually cause the clock to halt.

Men’s football experienced the new regulations for the first time yesterday during Arsenal’s 101st-minute equalizer in the Community Shield final between Manchester City and Arsenal.

Pep Guardiola, the city manager, criticized the amount of extra time that was added to the game and predicted that if the rule changes are kept in place, games will go until “tomorrow morning at 8am.”

Varane’s opinion that managers and players hadn’t been sufficiently consulted when the rule modifications were suggested was echoed by Guardiola.

We’ll have to adjust to this, he remarked. We were up by one. I received the impression that not much occurred during the extra eight minutes.

But because they don’t confer with the managers or the players, it’s a good question for the international board and everyone.

Mikel Arteta, the manager of Arsenal, also broke the new rules when Stuart Atwell issued him a yellow card for waving an artificial one in an effort to have Rodri booked.