In 1866, during a match between London and Sheffield, a pivotal moment in football's history occurred when both teams encountered a clash over the match duration. To find common ground, they reached an agreement to play for 90 minutes, split into two 45-minute halves. This decision has since become a standard that is universally adhered to in football matches worldwide. Before we answer your question, we invite you to our new article where we have answered all the most popular questions of sports fans - BoyleSports analysis.

Over the years, the 90-minute format has solidified itself as an unyielding rule, defining the length of a typical football match. Nonetheless, there are some exceptions to this general rule. In this article, we will delve into these exceptions, exploring the topic in greater depth.

DOES A GAME ALWAYS LAST 90 MINUTES?

Generally, a professional football match adheres to a standard duration of 90 minutes, divided into two halves of 45 minutes each. However, there are exceptions to this rule, particularly in youth games where the playing time is adjusted to suit the fitness levels of young players.

STANDARD MATCH DURATION

In both men's and women's football, the standard match duration is 90 minutes, with a 15-minute half-time interval in between. Extra time may be added to the game based on stoppages and injuries. The Football Association's official rules state:

"The duration of each match shall be 90 minutes, except in special cases, provided for in these Competition Rules, where an extra 30 minutes shall be played. The Referee shall allow for time lost in accordance with the Laws of the Game or through accident or other cause, and his decision on this matter is not subject to appeal. The half-time interval shall be 15 minutes for all ties in all competitions. Both teams shall enter the field of play together, five minutes prior to the kick-off time, along with the Match Officials."

WHEN DOES IT DIFFER?

Various circumstances can lead to deviations from the standard game length. Let's explore these further.

YOUTH GAMES

In youth football, match durations are often adjusted to accommodate the lower fitness levels of young players. The exact playing time depends on the specific age group:

- Under-six teams typically play two 10-minute halves.
- Under-eights play two 20-minute halves.
- Under-tens play two 25-minute halves.
- Under-twelves play two 30-minute halves.
- Under-fourteens play two 35-minute halves.
- Under-sixteens play two 40-minute halves.

If all players in a youth team are aged 17 or above, they will play the standard two 45-minute halves like professional matches.

STOPPAGE TIME

Stoppage time, also known as injury time, is the additional time added to the end of each half in a football game. The referee determines the duration of stoppage time, which is typically proportional to the length of delays that occurred during the match. Delays can be caused by injuries, general time-wasting, and time lost due to substitutions. Despite appearing insignificant, stoppage time can provide an opportunity for the trailing team to equalize or even win the game.

The stoppage time allocated for substitutions is usually around 30 seconds per substitute. Given that each team is allowed three substitutions, this can add up to a maximum of 3 minutes.

EXTRA TIME

If the score remains tied after the standard 90 minutes of play, some competitions proceed to extra time. Extra time usually consists of two further halves of 15 minutes each.

Goals scored during the extra time are considered part of the final score. However, if the score remains equal after the added time, the game advances to a penalty shootout, officially referred to as "kicks from the penalty mark."

The outcome of the penalty shootout will determine the winner, but the goals scored in the shootout are not added to the final score of the game. Instead, they serve as the deciding factor for which team progresses to the next stage of the competition.

TWO-LEGGED TIES

In certain competitions, teams may face each other twice in what is known as two-legged ties. The winner of the tie is determined by the aggregate score over the two games.

If the overall result is a draw, the "away goals rule" is applied to determine the winner. This rule compares the goals scored by each team when playing away from their home venue.

If the aggregate score remains equal even after considering the away goals, the game proceeds to extra time. If the tie remains unresolved after extra time, a penalty shootout follows. In rare cases, a tied game may need to be replayed, but this is an exception rather than the norm.

PENALTIES

When a football match remains tied after the added extra time, it proceeds to a penalty shootout. In this stage, players take turns attempting shots on goal from a designated spot.

During the shootout, each team takes alternating shots, with only the goalkeeper defending the goal. The winner is determined by the team with the most successful goals after a specific number of attempts. If the score remains equal, the shootout continues on a "goal-for-goal" basis.

In this scenario, teams take shots alternately, and the team that scores a goal unmatched by their opponent wins. If all players have taken a shot and the tie is still not broken, certain players may need to take additional shots in a process known as "sudden death." In sudden death, as soon as one team misses a shot while the other team scores, the team that missed is eliminated from the competition.

FERGIE TIME

"Fergie time" is a phrase commonly used in English football, referring to an alleged excessive amount of added time at the end of a match, allowing a team more time to equalize or secure a victory.

The term is named after Sir Alex Ferguson, the former manager of Manchester United, and it stems from the perception that during matches when Manchester United was not winning, additional time beyond what was justified would be added to give the team a chance to score a crucial goal.

While whether Fergie time truly exists is a matter of debate, opposing fans often hold the belief that it does, suggesting that Manchester United has benefited from favorable added time in certain situations. However, the notion remains somewhat contentious and subject to differing opinions among football enthusiasts.