UEFA’s Director of Professional Football Zvonimir Boban expressed his anger over the decision to increase the average length of extra time, attacking Pierluigi Collina and FIFA.
The topic of actual playing time – the true amount of time that the ball is in play in a match – has been increasingly moving to the forefront in recent years, with many seemingly unhappy that some games see the ball in play for as little as two-thirds of the 90 minutes.
At the World Cup in Qatar last year, it was quickly apparent that FIFA were testing the idea of more accurate periods of extra time, with some periods lasting over 10 minutes. This has continued domestically, with one example being Tottenham’s recent win over Sheffield United.
Speaking to Marca via TMW, Boban weighed in on the topic, hitting out at FIFA and Collina, who is on the FIFA referees committee.
“They have taken this decision on their own, without consulting teams and players, who precisely in the last half-hour experience the hardest moment of the match and now, in an already excessively busy schedule, they also see extra times lengthen disproportionately.
“Collina and FIFA don’t care, but football is not theirs, it belongs to those who love it. I have known the former referee for years and we have always collaborated positively, but now he must put his ego aside for the good of the sport.
“As for the UEFA competitions, we will not follow these directives, they are anti-football and go against the health of the players.”
It remains to be seen how long extra time periods will be on average in the Champions League, Europa League and Conference League this season.
Boban is wrong. There is too much time-wasting by players and coaches. It has become an overused tactic that makes The Beautiful Game slow and boring like American baseball.
heres an idea it teams cant score in 90 to 120 minutes eliminate both teams or 1 polnt each no shoot out then you will see the best team win
^^^ what does that have to do with the amount of time added on?