Stoppage time, also called added time or injury time, is the extra time the referee adds at the end of each half to make up for time lost during play, such as substitutions, injuries, time wasting, VAR checks and goal celebrations. The referee alone keeps the official match time, and near the end of each half the fourth official holds up a board showing the minimum number of minutes to be added. The referee can add more if further time is lost during the added period.
This guide explains what time gets added, how it is shown, how it works in extra time, why added time has grown in recent years, how teams manage it, and the misconceptions fans often have.
What time gets added
| Reason | Example |
|---|---|
| Substitutions | Players leaving and entering the field |
| Injuries | Assessment and removal of injured players |
| Time wasting | Slow restarts, delaying goal kicks or throw-ins |
| Disciplinary sanctions | Time taken to issue cautions and send-offs |
| Medical stoppages | Drinks and cooling breaks, where the competition allows them |
| VAR checks and reviews | Delays for video review, including on-field reviews |
| Goal celebrations | Time taken by long celebrations |
| Other causes | Crowd trouble, equipment problems or delays to restarts |
These reasons come from Law 7 of the IFAB Laws of the Game, which covers the duration of the match. The law gives the referee discretion to judge how much time was lost.
How stoppage time is shown
- The referee tracks lost time. Throughout each half, the referee notes time lost to the reasons above.
- The board goes up. Near the end of the half, the fourth official shows the minimum added time on an electronic board.
- More time can be added. If further time is lost during stoppage time, the referee can extend it beyond the number shown.
- The whistle ends the half. The half ends when the referee blows the whistle, not when the clock or board says so.
The number on the board is a minimum. The referee cannot reduce it, but can add to it.
Special situations
Penalty kicks. If a penalty kick is awarded near the end of a half, time is extended to allow the kick to be taken and completed, even if the added time has expired.
First-half time. Time lost in the first half is added to the first half only. It does not carry over to the second half.
Extra time. In knockout matches that go to extra time, each 15-minute period can also have added time for stoppages.
Ending a half during an attack. Many fans believe a half cannot end while a team is attacking, but this is not in the laws. The referee can end the half when time is up, even if a team is attacking, except when a penalty kick must be completed.
How referees calculate lost time
Referees use a watch to keep time and track stoppages throughout each half. Some referees stop a second watch during longer delays, such as serious injuries or VAR reviews, while others note the start and end of each stoppage and add them up. Assistant referees and the fourth official can help by keeping their own records. Near the end of the half, the referee communicates the minimum added time to the fourth official, usually by radio or hand signal, and the board goes up. Because the calculation involves judgment, added time can vary between referees and competitions.
A brief history
Allowance for time lost has been part of soccer’s laws for well over a century, with the referee responsible for the official time. For much of that history, fans had no idea how much time would be added. Showing the minimum added time on a board became common in professional soccer in the late 20th century, and electronic boards are now standard at the top level. The more recent push for accurate added time has made stoppage time a bigger and more visible part of the game.
Why added time has grown
For many years, stoppage time at the top level was often only a few minutes. Studies of ball-in-play time showed that far more time was being lost than was being added back. At the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, referees were instructed to calculate lost time more accurately, which led to noticeably longer added-time periods. Several leagues and competitions have since followed a similar approach, so it is now common to see seven, eight or even more minutes added in some matches. The aim is to increase the amount of actual playing time and reduce the benefit of time wasting.
How teams manage stoppage time
| Situation | Common approach |
|---|---|
| Protecting a lead | Keep possession, play the ball into the corners and avoid conceding set pieces |
| Chasing a goal | Push players forward, take quick restarts and use long balls into the box |
| Late substitutions | Teams sometimes substitute late to slow play, but the time is usually added back |
| Goalkeeper time | Keepers must release the ball within the time allowed by the laws, or the opponent may be awarded a restart |
Because referees now add time more accurately, time wasting is less effective than it used to be and can also result in cautions for delaying the restart of play.
How to follow stoppage time as a fan
- Watch for the board. It appears near the end of the 45th and 90th minutes.
- Remember it is a minimum. Further stoppages can extend it.
- Look for the referee’s signal. The final whistle, not the stadium clock, ends the half.
- Note late incidents. Injuries, substitutions and VAR checks in stoppage time often add even more time.
Common misconceptions
- The board shows the exact time left. It shows the minimum; more time can be added.
- The referee must wait for an attack to finish. Only a penalty kick must be completed before the half ends.
- Stoppage time is only for injuries. Substitutions, VAR checks, celebrations and time wasting all count.
- Time wasting always pays off. Lost time is added back and delaying restarts can lead to cautions.
- The stadium clock is official. Only the referee’s timekeeping counts.
Rulebook note
Stoppage time is governed by Law 7 of the IFAB Laws of the Game, which competitions apply at every level. Some competitions add their own guidance, such as instructions to referees on calculating time lost or rules on drinks and cooling breaks. Youth and amateur leagues may use shorter halves and different procedures, so check the rules for your competition.
Frequently asked questions
Who decides how much stoppage time is added?
The referee. The fourth official only displays the minimum added time on the board, based on the referee’s calculation.
Can the referee add more time than the board shows?
Yes. The board shows the minimum, and the referee can add more if further time is lost, but cannot reduce it.
Why is stoppage time longer now?
Since the 2022 World Cup, many competitions have asked referees to calculate lost time more accurately, which has led to longer added-time periods.
