I’ve long thought that the clock should be stopped when the ball is out of play.

But on reflection I’m not so sure. There would be many occasions when a 90 minute game could go on for 2 hours or more.

On Saturday, the ref added on I think 8 minutes at the end. If the clock had been stopped whenever play stopped that time could easily have been two or three times that. If we hadn’t been winning for most of the second half, we would undoubtedly have seen Stoke players employing the so-called ‘dark arts’ throughout the second half, feigning injury, taking ages over goal kicks etc. Who has time to watch a two and a half hour game?

The bottom line is that fans need to catch trains, buses, and get home for other things in their lives, meaning stadiums could be half empty at full time. So I think the current system of referees adding on a reasonable amount of extra time at his discretion is probably preferable.

Posted By: Fenwood Lad on February 25th 2025 at 14:01:50

Message Thread

Referee expertise wanted (Other Football) - Henclrikus, Feb 25, 10:28:18
- I always hate it when the whistle is due to be blown but they still wait for the goalie to (Other Football) - Augustus Pablo, Feb 25, 13:30:29
- Time keeping (Other Football) - letsbehavinyou, Feb 25, 12:19:20
  - I’ve long thought that the clock should be stopped when the ball is out of play. (Other Football) - Fenwood Lad, Feb 25, 14:01:50
    - The length of the game would have to be adjusted accordingly (Other Football) - SimonOTBC, Feb 25, 14:11:21
      - 57 mins and 3 second average ball in play in the Champ 23/24 (Other Football) - jamesward, Feb 25, 14:19:19
        
        I can't think of anything worse tbh (Other Football) - camcan, Feb 25, 14:24:38
        
        Every goal worth 5 points (Other Football) - jamesward, Feb 25, 14:34:33
  - Cos football is behind on progress whereas other sports focus on fair (Other Football) - Lentil Weaver, Feb 25, 12:58:10
  - Stop a lot of almost no controversy (n/m) (Other Football) - SCC 28, Feb 25, 12:25:00
    - We could play until the ball goes dead too (Other Football) - jamesward, Feb 25, 12:27:00
      - Ball dead rule (Other Football) - Lentil Weaver, Feb 25, 13:08:18
- Not required to restart play if he thinks the 90 + addded time has already elapsed (Other Football) - CWC, Feb 25, 10:45:47
  - Yes, this... (Other Football) - Worthing Yellow, Feb 25, 12:39:38
  - Ta. But never seen FT blown immediately b4 restart. (n/m) (Other Football) - Henclrikus, Feb 25, 10:50:10
    - c.f. Clive Thomas, Sweden vs Brazil, 1978 WC. (n/m) (Other Football) - Under soil heating, Feb 25, 12:22:09
    - probably stands out more because it was a goal? (Other Football) - CWC, Feb 25, 11:06:25
- No expertise here but I agree with you (Other Football) - Old Man, Feb 25, 10:35:17
  - Correct (Other Football) - norwaay, Feb 25, 10:44:07
    - wrong match (n/m) (Other Football) - CWC, Feb 25, 10:47:58
      - Oh haha, ok (Other Football) - norwaay, Feb 25, 10:53:39

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