The Football Association (FA), which is in charge of the Premier League, has disclosed new rules on added time, targeted at clamping down on time-wasting in the League games, and implementation is set to start in the upcoming season as recommended by the (IFAB) International Football Association Board (the body which determines rules in football).
This new rule was first implemented by FIFA in the last edition of the World Cup held in Qatar in 2022, and the new rules allow referees to add significant time to matches if they sense players deliberately waste time which includes dead time for free kicks, throwing, corners and goal kicks.
According to World Soccer Talk, yellow cards can be handed out more freely for these infractions as well.
These rules are also currently being implemented in the ongoing 2023 Women’s FIFA World Cup in Australia and New Zealand which has seen added times as long as 15-20minutes added to matches. Similarly, the just concluded Community Shield which Arsenal won against treble winners Man City, had 8 minutes added to the game, but an incident between Thomas Party and Walker caused the referee to add more time, which allowed Arsenal grab a very late 90+10 minutes courtesy of a strike from Leandro Trossard forcing the match eventually to penalties which the Gunners won 4-1.
Managers such as Pep Guardiola and Manchester United’s Erik Ten Hag have shared their opinions on the new rules.
According to Eurosports, Man City’s Boss Pep speaking after the Community Shield defeat said, “It is not annoying, we have to get used to it, I had the feeling, not because we were winning 1-0, it was just the fact I had a feeling that much didn’t happen to extend by eight minutes.
“But it is a good question for the International Board (the International Football Association Board who instructed the rule change) and all the people because they don’t consult the managers, they don’t consult the players.
“What is their opinion, we have to accept it and we have to do it. Now the games will not be 90 minutes, they will be 100 minutes, that’s for sure.
Erik Ten Hag also reacted to the new rules in support of Raphel Varane as the Manchester United star posted a message via his verified Twitter account which reads;
“We had a meeting last week with the FA, they recommended from the referees new decisions and rules.
“From the managers and players, we have shared our concerns for many years now that there are too many games, the schedule is overcrowded, and it’s at a dangerous level for players’ physical and mental well-being.
“Despite our previous feedback, they have now recommended for next season: longer games, more intensity, and less emotions to be shown by players. We just want to be in good condition on the pitch to give 100% to our club and fans. Why are our opinions not being heard?
“As a player, I feel very privileged to do the job I love every day but I feel these changes are damaging our game. We want to be at our maximum level, the best we can be, and put on amazing performances for fans to celebrate every week.
“I believe it is important that we, players and managers, highlight these important issues as we want to protect the game we love and give the fans our best.
Ten Hag publicly backed the player telling reporters, “Players are on the edge of what’s possible and we’ve been saying this for years, but they’re adding games to competitions every time. Now they’re adding game time.
“I agree with Varane on the fact that players are pushed to their limits. Absolutely! FIFA, UEFA, we have been sending the same message for years, but they continue. Commercial interest comes before the quality of football.”
Kelvin De Bruyne speaking to reporters on the new rules following the Community Shield defeat to Arsenal was quick to stress that their loss on penalties to the Gunners was not caused by the rules but stated that the new rules made no sense.
“Assuming we’re going to play about 15 minutes extra every game now, that says it all,” he said at Wembley.
“We spoke to the Arsenal players and even the referees. They don’t even want to do it, but it’s the new rules and it’s what it is.
“A game like today, even the first half with three minutes extra, you can only guess what’s going to happen if you play a lower team who keep time wasting all the time. Today we played 12-13 minutes. I can see games going for 20-25 minutes [extra]. I think this will change in one to two months but this is the first game.”
“I’m thinking if we play Seville in Olympiakos [Karaiskakis Stadium for the UEFA Super Cup] on Wednesday and have 15-20 extra minutes and then play on Saturday again. It’s like two times extra time. We’ll see how it goes but it doesn’t make any sense,” he concluded.
On the other hand, former Man United striker Dimitar Berbatov has eluded the new rules, stating that it was a success at the last edition of the World Cup in 2022 and will clamp down on time-wasting in the sport and increase excitement.
