How is stoppage time decided in football?
I · Intermediate · How long is a match, and what stops it? · 9 of 14The referee adds additional time at the end of each half for time lost to substitutions, injuries, time-wasting, cards, drinks and cooling breaks, VAR checks, goal celebrations and other delays. The fourth official shows the minimum at the end of the half. The referee can play more than that, but not less.
How it works
Time is added for:
- substitutions;
- assessing and removing injured players;
- wasting time;
- disciplinary sanctions;
- medical stoppages the competition allows: drinks breaks (no more than one minute) and cooling breaks (90 seconds to three minutes);
- VAR checks and reviews;
- goal celebrations;
- any other cause, such as a significant delay to a restart.
The number shown is a minimum. The referee may increase it but not reduce it. A timekeeping mistake in the first half is not made up by changing the second half.
Tricky cases
Can the referee blow before the added time is up?
No. The time shown is the minimum.
Why did the match go beyond the added time shown?
More time was lost during the added time itself, or a penalty kick had to be completed.
Why the rule exists
Without it, a team that is ahead could shorten the match by wasting time.
Where it differs
| Where | What changes | Source |
|---|---|---|
| All football under the Laws | As above | L7.3; L6.2 |
| Competitions | Decide whether to allow drinks and cooling breaks | L7.3 |
From the rule book
IFAB Laws of the Game 2026/27, Laws 6.2 and 7.3 and the glossary ("Additional time", "Cooling break", "Drinks break"), in force from 1 July 2026. Checked 13 October 2026. Official document: IFAB Laws of the Game (PDF).