Question Number: 26434

Law 7 - Match Duration 6/10/2012

RE: professional Adult

Bongani Mahlangu of pretoria, South Africa asks...

During the substitution does the referee stop his time or does he let the game to continue, or is substituting part of the 90 minutes of play?

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

In adult games with limited substitutes, the referee usually adds on time to compensate for the time lost. (The clock is not stopped; time is added at the end of each half.)

However many recreational and youth leagues have adopted unlimited substitutions. This is specifically allowed in the new version of the Laws of the Game. In that case, since substitutions are no longer a relatively rare event, time is generally not added on. The substitutions have become part of the game, not an exception. Else, you might be adding on way too many minutes!

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Bongani
In games played under the Laws of the Game the referee has discretion to allow for all time lost through:
# substitutions
# assessment of injury to players
# removal of injured players from the field of play for treatment
# wasting time
# any other cause.
So the referee can and does add on time for substitutions. Some referees add on the actual time time taken while other on a rough calculation say add on 30 seconds for each substitution. If two or more substitutions are made together that would be viewed as one for the purpose of calculating the time lost.
There are also games that are played under unique competition rules. These rules include unlimited substitutions, no added time and in those game no allowance is made for time lost on substitutions.

Answer provided by Referee Dennis Wickham

We do not stop the clock, but the referee has discretion to add time for any unusual delays, including substitutions.

The following questions were asked as a follow up to the above question...

See Question: 26568