What Is Stoppage Time in Soccer?

Stoppage time, also known as injury time, is the time added at the end of each half. These extra minutes make up for any time lost during the standard 45 minutes of play (see How Long is a Game of Soccer). Here’s what the official FIFA Laws of the Game say:

"Many stoppages in play are entirely natural (e.g. throw-ins, goal kicks). An allowance is to be made only when these delays are excessive."

The referee decides how much stoppage time to add at the end of each half. If no excessive delays have occurred, he might not add any stoppage time at all.

Referees usually wear two watches. They use one watch to measure the exact 45 minute period (never stopping it during play). The second watch is stopped every time an excessive delay occurs – in this way, the ref can calculate how much stoppage time to add.  

Reasons for Stoppage Time

Howard Webb wearing two watches

The Laws of the Game highlight six reasons that can lead to additional stoppage time:

Substitutions – The referee should always allow for time lost due to substitutions.

Assessment of injured players – The referee stops his watch when a player needs medical attention on the field.

Removal of injured players from the field of play for treatment – When a player can’t continue, he must be removed from the field. This can eat up a lot of time, especially if the injured player needs to be stretchered off.

Wasting time – If the ref thinks a player is deliberately wasting time, he can add that time onto the end of the half.

Penalty kicks – The ref always adds stoppage time to account for time lost during penalty kicks.

“Any other cause” – That’s not a very precise law, but that’s exactly what it says in the Laws of the Game! Basically, the ref can increase stoppage time for any other random event that interrupts the game. That’s a good thing, because plenty of unexpected delays can occur: lost balls, damaged balls, floodlight failure, pitch invasions, stray dogs and chickens... Anything can happen on the soccer field!

Stoppage Time and Youth Soccer

In competitive adult soccer, the average amount of stoppage time is about three minutes per half.  Stoppage time is normally slightly longer at the end of the second half. Stoppage time isn’t always used in youth soccer, particularly in the lower age groups (under-12), so the ref simply blows his whistle after 45 minutes (or less in some cases). 

If the referee does add stoppage time, he (or the linesman) should let the players know how much time has been added. If he doesn’t, you can always ask him!

Howard Webb image from thetelf at Wikimedia Commons.