Premier League set for 100-minute matches like those seen at World Cup

05 March 2023 , 17:08

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The Premier League is set for longer matches (Image: Getty Images)

The Premier League is set to extend the amount of time added on at the end of matches after a successful approach from FIFA at the World Cup in Qatar.

43 of the 62 games at the tournament reached 100 minutes, with England's opening game against Iran setting the benchmark by lasting a mammoth 117 minutes. The contributors to added time were injuries, VAR decisions, substitutions, penalties and red cards, as well any time-wasting antics by the players.

The latter is particularly prevalent in the Premier League right now, with a number of teams deciding to run the clock down and taking longer than expected for goal kicks, set plays and throw ins. This tends to be the case when a side are ahead or hoping to protect a precious point.

However, according to the Times, football lawmakers Ifab will implement the style used by FIFA from next season to ensure that matches are played for longer. The directive means that 100-minute games may become common-place in the English leagues next season, including the EFL and non-league.

After the success of FIFA's plan at the World Cup to add more minutes on, FIFA president Gianni Infantino said that leagues across the world would be monitored to make sure they are following the laws of the game correctly. Infantino revealed that the ball was in play for an average of 60 minutes in Qatar, compared to 55 minutes in the Premier League so far this season.

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Speaking after the annual meeting of the International FA Board (Ifab) in London, Infantino said: "We want to fight against time-wasting, we want the fans to enjoy the game, we have seen at the last World Cup on average we had a bit more than ten minutes additional time, and around 60 minutes of effective time being played.

8 minutes were added on in the World Cup final (Getty Images)

"It has been widely appreciated by everyone and the laws of the game are universal and we have to make sure they are universally implemented.

"We have seen a very inconsistent application of these laws of the game when it comes to time-wasting, and some leagues have matches lasting less than 50 minutes, and others have around 60 minutes now. We will monitor leagues all over the world. But we are not changing the laws of the game, and there will be no stoppage clock."

The news also comes after Erik ten Hag labelled Newcastle as "annoying" before the Carabao Cup final after they ground out a goalless draw at Old Trafford earlier in the season. Meanwhile, Pep Guardiola hit out at Premier League referees before his side's clash against Newcastle and said his team have been treated unfairly when it comes to time-wasting.

Kieran King