Football to adopt a stopped clock system

With football experiencing record losses in match play time, a stopped clock system has never been more viable! Learn what it entails and its impact on the future of the sport.

To combat time wasting and maximize playing time, the International Football Association Board or IFAB aims to adopt a stopped clock system. Despite its popularity in football, the stopped clock system is not a new concept. IFAB first suggested the countdown clock to guarantee 60 minutes of play time, but it flopped even before it could make the headlines. Well, the proposal is back, with IFAB spearheading its adoption, given the drastic drop in play time last season.

Stopped Clock System: The Best Way to Combat Time Wasting in Football

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The Stopped Clock system entails pausing the clock every time the ball is not in play to avoid time-wasting. This option targets players who use the opportunity to maintain their lead in the game or go for a draw in the match’s dying minutes. If adopted, matches will be more exciting, and every game will run for 60 minutes.

The approach will force the referee to halt the clock whenever a goal, injury, foul, or substitution occurs. This will enhance every aspect of the game, including live sports betting, an activity you can perform at some of the best Indian online casinos that offer a wide range of betting markets and high odds. The system is being reconsidered after IFAB recorded an average of 55 minutes and 3 seconds of the ball in play time in the 2021-22 EPL season. The play time dropped by 1 minute 19 seconds, raising the alarm.

In some lower leagues, the ball in play time fell even lower to the extent of reaching 49 minutes 45 seconds. Manchester City was the only team that recorded more than 1 hour of play time. With such poor statistics cutting across the board, the main question today is, does football need a 60-minute stop-clock? And this time, the answer is a roaring YES! This approach will also benefit fans who spend a fortune to purchase tickets only to enjoy a few minutes of play.

In a nutshell

The stopped clock system is currently one of the most viable options being considered by IFAB to increase play time and shorten stoppages. Other approaches likely to be adopted for the same purpose include introducing semi-automated offsides and replacing throw-ins with kick-ins. Basically, IFAB wants to ensure the play time of different leagues hits 60 minutes.

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