Stoppage Time: The Official Rule and Other Interesting Facts

What is Stoppage Time?

Stoppage time, also known as injury time or added time, is the extra time added by the referee at the end of each half of an association football match.

This time is used to compensate for any time lost during the match due to stoppages such as:

• Injuries
• Substitutions
• Penalties
• Video reviews

Official Rule for Stoppage Time

According to the Laws of the Game, the referee has the authority to "add to the playing time of either half for any time lost due to:

• Assessment of an injury to a player
• Wasting time by either side
• Any other reason the referee considers appropriate

The amount of stoppage time added is at the referee's discretion, but it is typically between 1-5 minutes per half.

Injury Time vs. Stoppage Time

Injury time is a subset of stoppage time.

Injury time specifically refers to the time added to compensate for time lost due to injuries to players.

Stoppage time includes injury time, as well as time lost due to other reasons.

Statistically Significant

Recent stats show more than 95% of all goals scored in stoppage time come after the 90th minute in regulation time.