How long is a soccer game and what is stoppage time?
From Real Madrid to Liverpool to Ámerica and LA Galaxy, the rules of the Beautiful Game are the same, including the length of the matches.
If you’ve opened up this article then I’ll take it that you’re not a regular viewer of the game known in almost all countries of the world as football, but in some places as soccer. Either that or you’re a regular fan currently enraged at the length of the match currently in play and need to double check that the governing bodies haven’t changed the rules when you weren’t looking. Allow me to clarify...
The length of a soccer game
OK, let’s start with the basics, and for that we can call upon descriptions laid out for everyone in the official guides. It’s broken down into the following:
Periods of play
A match lasts for two equal halves of 45 minutes which may only be reduced if agreed between the referee and the two teams before the start of the match and is in accordance with competition rules.
Half-time interval
Players are entitled to an interval at half-time, not exceeding 15 minutes; a short drinks break (which should not exceed one minute) is permitted at the interval of half-time in extra time. Competition rules must state the duration of the half-time interval and it may be altered only with the referee’s permission.
What’s ‘stoppage time’ or ‘additional time’?
Allowance for time lost
Allowance is made by the referee in each half for all playing time lost in that half through:
- substitutions
- assessment and/or removal of injured players
- wasting time
- disciplinary sanctions
- medical stoppages permitted by competition rules e.g. ‘drinks’ breaks (which should not exceed one minute) and ‘cooling’ breaks (ninety seconds to three minutes)
- delays relating to VAR ‘checks’ and ‘reviews’
- any other cause, including any significant delay to a restart (e.g. goal celebrations)
The fourth official indicates the minimum additional time decided by the referee at the end of the final minute of each half. The additional time may be increased by the referee but not reduced. The referee must not compensate for a timekeeping error during the first half by changing the length of the second half.
Penalty kick
If a penalty kick has to be taken or retaken, the half is extended until the penalty kick is completed.
I hope that now makes sense. Any further questions about the time involved in a match, or any other rules of the game doubts, just ask in the comments section.