A study by Wyscout reveals that the application of FIFA’s directive on added time has significantly increased the duration of football matches.
Since the start of the season, a World Cup-style approach has been adopted. Added time is calculated differently, resulting in longer matches. According to this study, FIFA’s directive is being strictly followed.
Now, matches last an average of 100 minutes. The Spanish La Liga is the league where referees add the most additional time on average (13 minutes and 3 seconds), followed by the English Premier League (11 minutes and 46 seconds). The French Ligue 1 falls close to the global average with an average of 10 minutes and 28 seconds of added time.
The study also indicates that the percentage of matches exceeding 100 minutes varies significantly from one league to another, averaging 52.4%. The United Arab Emirates ranks at the top of this list, with 100% of matches exceeding 100 minutes, while the Swiss second division records the lowest percentage, at only 6.7%. Approximately 60% of Ligue 1 matches last more than 100 minutes.
This increase in match duration can have an impact on player fatigue and time management by teams and coaches.
