Question

What is the official duration of a football match? How far can it be extended and why?

Answer 1

The normal playing time is 90 minutes, divided into two halves of 45 minutes.

• The referee adds stoppage time at the end of each half for time lost through injuries, substitutions and other delays.
• In a knockout match that must produce a winner, extra time may be played: two periods of 15 minutes.
• If the score remains level after extra time, a penalty shoot-out may decide the winner. Thus, the match can continue beyond 90 minutes to compensate for lost time or determine a winner.