Match basics
Stoppage time and extra time
Stoppage time and extra time are often confused. They are two different ways of adding minutes to a match, used for very different reasons. This guide explains both, and the penalty shoot-outs that follow when extra time cannot decide a match.
Stoppage time
Stoppage time, also called added time or injury time, is added at the end of each half to make up for time lost during play.
The referee keeps track of time lost during each half through substitutions, injuries, goal celebrations, time-wasting and other interruptions. At the end of each half, the fourth official displays a board showing the minimum number of additional minutes to be played.
The amount of stoppage time is at the referee's discretion. The board shows the minimum, not a fixed total — extra minutes can still be added during the period itself if more time is lost.
Extra time
Extra time is usually two further periods of 15 minutes, played in knockout matches when the score is level after 90 minutes and the competition rules require a winner.
Extra time is only used in matches that need a winner, mostly cup ties and knockout-stage games in major tournaments. League matches do not have extra time — a draw stays a draw. Some knockout competitions use extra time before penalties, while others go straight to a penalty shoot-out after 90 minutes. Extra time has its own added time at the end of each period.
In some competitions, teams can use an extra substitute and substitution opportunity in extra time, as well as any unused substitutes or substitution opportunities from normal time. Yellow cards carry into extra time because extra time is still part of the match. However, cautions from the match do not carry forward into the penalty shoot-out, although any player sent off during the match cannot take part.
Penalty shoot-outs
When a knockout match is still level after extra time, or after 90 minutes in competitions that skip extra time, a penalty shoot-out decides the result.
A penalty shoot-out begins with each team taking five penalties in turn. If one team is ahead and cannot be caught with the kicks remaining, the shoot-out is over straight away. If the score is level after five kicks each, the shoot-out moves into sudden death — teams take one penalty at a time, and the first team to be ahead after equal kicks wins.
All penalties are taken from the penalty spot, with only the goalkeeper to defend. The other eligible players wait in the centre circle, apart from the goalkeeper of the kicker, who remains on the field near the penalty area as required by the Laws.
Why stoppage time has grown
Stoppage time has become noticeably longer in recent years.
Major tournaments have asked referees to add on more time for events that genuinely interrupt play, such as long VAR checks, lengthy goal celebrations and substitutions late in the match. The aim is to compensate more accurately for clear delays, so teams gain less advantage from slowing the match down.
In practice, this has led to longer announcements at the end of each half — eight, ten or even twelve minutes of added time is now seen at top level when delays have been heavy. Newer law changes have also targeted specific time-wasting habits, such as delayed restarts and slow substitutions.
What to read next
Match length is closely connected to how matches start and restart, and to the role of the referee.