A football match lasts 90 minutes? No way! The numbers are deceptive. The DFB is therefore aiming for a different mark when it comes to net playing time.
Frankfurt – When the kick-off blows at 3:30 p.m. on Saturday afternoon in the Bundesliga stadiums, fans look forward to 90 minutes of emotion, excitement and victories. But in reality, the ball doesn’t roll for as long as it should. Injury breaks, dead balls, substitutions, time wasting – there are so many factors that can interrupt the flow of the game and lead to a delay.
Net playing time in the Bundesliga was 58 minutes and 30 seconds
Knut Kircher, the new referee chief, said last Tuesday in DFB-Campus in Frankfurt, however, with regard to the issue of injury time: “It will remain roughly the same as last season. That has worked well for us.” This was done “for the benefit” of the net playing time, which was significantly higher than in previous seasons. Alexander Feuerherdt, Head of Communication and Media Relations at the DFB referees, threw a: “The net playing time was 58 minutes and 30 seconds.”
Referee Felix Zwayer in conversation with Robin Koch and Willy Orban. © IMAGO/Jürgen Kessler
Kircher and Feuerherdt were pleased with this value and emphasized: “This brings us closer to the 60-minute mark we are aiming for.” The captain’s rule, according to which only the team captains are allowed to discuss contentious situations with the referee, and a clear procedure for time-wasting (goalkeepers hold the ball in their hands for too long, players kick the ball away after a whistle) are intended to further increase the net playing time.
The final phases in particular are often a nuisance
However, the final phases should be the main focus. Regardless of how tough a match was, in the final minutes every second is often fought for – using all means possible. That’s when the final substitution is made, the goalkeeper lies on the ball for seconds, the opposing striker rolls on the ground after the slightest touch. It remains to be seen whether the referees show the necessary consistency and intervene at the right time.
