By Martin Graham
Time management has always been a part of football, but in the Premier League this season the issue has attracted more and more attention. While the title race and relegation battle dominate the headlines, the issue of delays during matches has become one of the most discussed topics in the league.
The conversation intensified after that Brighton & Hove Albion Head coach Fabian Hurzeler criticized the situation after his side’s 1-0 defeat in arsenal. Hurzeler argued that the competition and referees should set clearer boundaries, suggesting that opponents can currently slow down the game without sufficient consequences.
The Arsenal manager, Mikel Arteta, has rejected the accusation and has defended the approach of his players. According to Arteta, the criticism aimed at his team shows how much attention Arsenal’s players receive.
Although slowing down the pace of play is against the laws of football, it has long existed as an unofficial tactic. Fans often accept it when it benefits their team, especially late in games when they are protecting an important result.
However, the debate has intensified this season. With ticket prices and subscription costs rising, some fans are wondering if they are getting the full value of the advertised 90 minutes of football.
The statistics show a mixed picture of the playing time
Looking strictly at the numbers, the situation is not entirely simple. According to data from Opta, the average time the ball has been in play during Premier League games this season is 55 minutes and 31 seconds.
This figure is slightly down on the previous two seasons, but still far from the lowest since Opta began tracking this data in the 2006-07 campaign. On the surface, the raw totals don’t clearly suggest a dramatic decline in active play.
The statistic also includes play during stoppage time at the end of each half. Added time has grown significantly in recent years, largely due to the introduction of the video assistant referee, or VAR.
In fact, the six seasons with the highest average extra time per game have all come since VAR came to the Premier League at the start of the 2019-20 season. When time on the ball is measured as a percentage of total match duration, the current campaign ranks among the lowest on record.
Delays and stoppages remain part of the discussion
Not all interruptions are deliberate. Injuries and other genuine stoppages often slow down games. One example was during a goalless draw in January between Arsenal and Liverpool at the Emirates Stadium.
In the final moments, Arsenal’s Gabriel Martinelli pushed Liverpool defender Conor Bradley in an attempt to get him off the pitch quicker. Martinelli was booked for the incident and later apologized, while Bradley was eventually ruled out for the season with a serious knee injury.
In terms of restart times, Liverpool record the fastest average delay in the division, taking 25.8 seconds before putting the ball back into play. Five clubs restart slower than Arsenal, while Sunderland have the longest average delay at 33.1 seconds.
Since Opta began tracking these delays in 2017-18, the league average has gradually increased in most campaigns. This season it stands at a record of 29.2 seconds. However, the figures include breaks for VAR reviews, making it difficult to separate forced stoppages from deliberate attempts to slow the game down.
The rule changes are aimed at reducing disruptions
Football authorities have already started introducing measures designed to keep matches moving. At the start of the current season, a rule was introduced requiring goalkeepers to release the ball within eight seconds while in their hands.
If this limit is exceeded, the opposing side will be awarded a corner. The move is intended to discourage goalkeepers from deliberately delaying restarts.
More tweaks are on the way. The International Football Association Board recently approved new proposals aimed at limiting what it describes as disruptions to the rhythm of matches and unnecessary time-wasting.
From June 1, including during this summer’s FIFA World Cup, referees will introduce a five-second countdown for goalkeepers taking goal kicks and for players preparing kicks.
Substituted players are also expected to leave the field within ten seconds. If they exceed this limit, the incoming substitute must wait at least one minute before entering the pitch, meaning the team is temporarily down one player.
While these steps could help maintain the pace of games, wider use of VAR could still slow down proceedings. At the next World Cup, the system will also review corner decisions and second yellow cards. It is up to individual competitions to decide whether to adopt these changes, and the Premier League is not currently expected to implement them.
