What is Stoppage Time?

Is it Always Called Stoppage Time?

The simple answer to this is no, it’s not. In the case of stoppage time, it’s also known as injury time or added time. If you read or hear those terms, then don’t worry, everything that applies to stoppage time will also apply to them.

Soccer has developed over a long time across a lot of different countries, so it doesn’t always have just a single blanket term for things. For example, a center half and a center back are essentially the same things.

What is Stoppage Time?

Stoppage Time is the time that’s played out once the 45 minutes have finished. We all know that soccer plays 45-minute halves. During those halves, the clock isn’t stopped for any incidents. So, for the ball going out of play, substitutions, goals and anything else you can think of, the clock stays running.

🔵 For most of these events that time doesn’t just get lost, it will be counted up and added on at the end. That is the stoppage time.

🔵 Most of the time for the ball going out of play, time won’t be added on. A goal kick, corner kick or throw-in will just be counted as part of the game.

🔵 However, this isn’t the case if a team is using the ball going out of play to waste time. If this happens, then the referee can add extra time on top of the stoppage time already awarded. This is to try and keep the game flowing and to stop teams from just wasting time if they are winning as the game draws to a close.

How can We Find Out How Much Stoppage Time has been Added On?

It all depends on whether you are watching the game in the stadium or in front of a TV screen.

• If you’re watching the game on the ground, then the fourth official will hold up a board at the end of each half. This board is the same as the one that shows the substitute numbers when they come on and off. The number that’s shown on this is the amount of stoppage time that is being awarded.
• Fans who are watching on the television will normally be treated to a camera shot of the fourth official holding up the board.

Once the board has been held up, the television broadcast will also add the stoppage time details to the game clock that’s on the screen. Fans on the ground may get to see how much stoppage time there is on screens in the ground, depending on how technologically advanced the stadium is.

Is the Stoppage Time Fixed?

The stoppage time is not fixed. It’s officially known as the minimum amount of stoppage time. This means exactly what it suggests, it’s the least amount of stoppage time that will be played.

🔵 If another stoppage happens just as the stoppage time starts, then the referee won’t start the clock. So, 4 minutes of stoppage time could end up being 8 minutes of stoppage time if all of the initial 4 minutes are taken up by an injury.

🔵 This is why it’s not worth players going down with cramps if it’s not real, as the time will just be added on no matter what.

How Much Time can be Added on?

There is no limit to how much time can be added to a game. If a player is down injured for 10 minutes, then that time will be added on.

In fact, the World Cup has seen a significant increase in the amount of stoppage time that’s been added on at the end of games. This is likely being done to try and cut down on time wasting and make the games more exciting.

Using Stoppage Time for Betting

Not many people understand that stoppage time can be a valuable tool when it comes to sports betting. By using in-play betting and watching the game you may be able to find value in the game.

🔵 If a game has had a lot of stoppages then it’s likely that a lot of added time will be awarded. In this situation, you will be able to get good odds on there being additional goals scored in the half.

🔵 For example, if the game is 0-0 and it looks as though 10 minutes of added time will be awarded, you could get good value on over 0.5 goals scored in that half. That’s why it’s important to watch games live if you plan to use in-play betting.

Is Time Wasting Part of the Game?

Although many argue that it shouldn’t be, it simply is! The basic idea behind it is that by wasting some of the time during the game, it won’t all go towards the stoppage time that is added on.

🔵 There have been quite a few teams over the years that have used time-wasting to try and get an advantage. So, for example, if an underdog is winning with 5 minutes left, they may try to time waste in the hope that only 2 or 3 minutes of stoppage time will be added.