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Question for soccer fans...

3 replies · 1,173 views · Started 17 June 2002

Can someone please explain to me what this 'stoppage time' is? It seems different every time and it seems like ven the players don't know how much time this is. Is it overtime or something?

I played soccer as a youth, but I've never heard the term "stoppage." My guess is that it occurs coinciding with commercial breaks in live broadcast games.

Stoppage time is the time the officials add on to the end of each half to compensate for stoppages in play, such as injuries, goals, and any other unusual delays in getting the ball back into play. Near the end of each half, the fourth official (on the sideline) holds up a sign with the number of minutes of stoppage time to be added. This number is approximate; the final timing decision is up to the referee.