Zvonimir Boban, the Chief of Football for UEFA, the governing body of European football, criticised the recently implemented stoppage-time regulations in English soccer on Wednesday, asserting their impracticality and confirming that they will not be adopted for UEFA competitions.
Emulating FIFA’s tactics during the men’s and women’s World Cups, England’s association of referees announced in July that match officials would tack on the precise duration lost to goal celebrations, substitutions, and injuries.
The intent behind this adjustment is to heighten the duration during which the ball remains in play, as matches increasingly extend beyond the 100-minute mark in total.
However, this approach has encountered resistance from notable figures, including Manchester City midfielder Kevin De Bruyne, Manchester United defender Raphael Varane, and the global players’ union FIFPRO. These voices argue that the new measures will augment the physical demands on players within an already congested fixture calendar.
In the words of Zvonimir Boban, the former AC Milan and Croatia midfielder, the situation is “absolutely absurd.” Speaking to journalists in Monaco, he lamented the effect on player welfare, referring to it as a “small tragedy or big tragedy,” given the additional playing time being introduced—approximately 12 to 14 minutes.
Boban, drawing upon his own playing experience, pointed out the ramifications, especially for midfielders who often feel fatigue settle in during the final stages of a match. To then be faced with an extra 15 minutes due to stoppage-time adjustments seems excessive.
He emphasised the disparity between the directives and the pleas for a less crowded fixture schedule, asserting that the voices of players and coaches are not being heeded. “It’s crazy. It’s too much,” he remarked, solidifying the commitment of UEFA to not adopt such measures, citing their distinct set of guidelines.
Roberto Rosetti, UEFA’s Chief Refereeing Officer, echoed Boban’s sentiments, outlining that UEFA has dedicated five years to enhancing active playtime during its competitions. Beyond the precision of calculating added time, Rosetti emphasised a more fundamental principle. “There is something more important than the accuracy of additional time,” he noted. “Why do people like the Champions League so much? Because it’s intensive, it’s fantastic, the players never stop.”
Rosetti’s directive for referees revolves around quickening the restart of play, prioritising the seamless flow of the game over fixating on stoppage time.
