Question Number: 24728

Law 7 - Match Duration 3/24/2011

RE: Adult

bola of abuja, f.c.t nigeria asks...

in the rules of the english premier league,when the halfs are over and there is added time,is it a rule that the referee must adhere to that time or that is the minimum time for extra period of play?

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Bola
The referee adds on at the end of each half, time lost through injuries, stoppages etc. The referee informs the 4th official the amount of added time that he intends to play. The 4th official then display on a display board that the referee intends to play a minimum of x minutes of added time. So if the referee is going to say add on 3 minutes 30 seconds the board will show 3. Generally some referees round up/down the time in these situation to the nearest minute so for example 2minutes 50 seconds will be rounded up to 3 minutes and that's what will be played. Whereas 3 minutes 10 seconds will be shown as three and ended at 3.10.
What would never happen is that the board would say 3 minutes and the referee would play say 2 minutes.

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

Also, if the referees indicate 3 minutes and additional time-wasting goes on during those minutes, more time should be added. This will not be announced via the 4th official's display board.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

That is the minimum amount of time. If the referee adds 3 minutes for example, the match is likely to go 3 minutes 15 seconds or longer if the referee feels more time needed to be added for any injuries, substitutions, time wasting, or any other reason he deems fit