FIFA chief Collina proposes scrapping stoppage time in one-sided games

FIFA refereeing chief Pierluigi Collina proposes radical idea that stoppage time in one-sided matches – such as Liverpool’s annihilation of Man United – could be SCRAPPED in the future

  • FIFA are keen to cut down on deliberate time-wasting in football matches 
  • Games regularly went past 100 minutes in the recent World Cup in Qatar
  • But Collina has suggested added time could be scrapped in one-sided games 

Stoppage time at the end of one-sided contests – like Liverpool’s 7-0 win over Manchester United last weekend – could someday be scrapped.

But until that is added to the game’s laws, FIFA’s refereeing chief Pierluigi Collina insists every match must be treated equally for the sake of fairness.

Collina conducted a conference call on Thursday in which he mentioned how three minutes were added at the end of Liverpool’s annihilation at Anfield, despite six of the seven goals being scored in the second half.

The 63-year-old Italian suggested a radical idea whereby FIFA would consider cancelling stoppage time in the future if one team is leading by a certain number of goals.

This change would be strongly challenged, given it would deny clubs the chance to improve their goal differences, which can impact where a team ultimately finishes in their league.

Pierluigi Collina has suggested scrapping added time in one-sided games in the future

Liverpool’s 7-0 win over Man United had three minutes added time in the second half, but Collina thinks games like this could end with no stoppage time moving forward

Collina instead said the 2022 Qatar World Cup was an example of how to approach time-keeping in football and said: ‘It was one (minute of stoppage time in the first half at Anfield) plus three (in the second half). I can understand that showing the relevant amount of time when it’s 7-0 is difficult to understand in the specific match.

‘But if the competition regulations say that goal difference is relevant for the ranking at the end (of the season), even one goal scored or not scored can make the difference.

‘When I played baseball, there was a rule that, after the sixth inning, if there was a difference in terms of score of more than six, the match was over.

‘Maybe in the future we may consider within the laws of the game to say that additional time has not to be given at the end of the match if there is a difference of “X” goals between the teams. But these would be (changes to) the laws of the game.’

Collina said he is pleased with how stoppage time is being added in games on a whole, pointing out that four of the Premier League’s 10 matches last weekend totalled more than 100 minutes.

He feels it is tackling time-wasting in football as players realise any dawdling will be reflected in the minutes added by referees.

FIFA have already considered the inclusion of a stopwatch – the method of time-keeping used in basketball – but decided against initiating a trial in discussions alongside lawmakers IFAB.


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