Thoughts on Time-Wasting

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Comments about this discussion:

Started 29 Jun 05:13

I think there is a need to include Time-Wasting into the rulebook.

Time-wasting occurs when a team deliberately delays the game, especially when narrowly leading towards the end of a match. Typical examples include:
– excessive delay in taking a free shot,
– slowly returning to the own half after scoring a goal,
– deliberately slow restart after conceding a goal.

To assess potential time-wasting, referees may compare the pace of play to earlier phases of the game. As long as the ball remains in play and is generally playable, no time-wasting shall be called.

Referees may issue a warning or a time penalty in case of time-wasting. Since time-wasting often occurs in the final minutes of a match, referees are encouraged to intervene early—e.g., by stopping the game clock when clear delaying tactics are observed.

If a time penalty is issued, it may be:
– applied to a clearly identifiable individual or
– issued to the team as a whole. In that case, the team must choose which four players will continue play during the penalty period.

Comment 29 Jun 09:55

I generally agree with everything you wrote.

In the current rulebook, we already have a few rules that address "delay of the game" (see further down). Do you feel we need to specify what should be considered a delay of the game or what is your point?

14B.9.5 Penalty Box:

listed under "2 minutes": intentional delay of game

Comment 30 Jun 03:05

All examples are correct and "we already have a few rules that address "delay of the game".

• " excessive delay in taking a free shot" > easy to identify the individual, the player at or next to the ball
• "deliberately slow restart after conceding a goal" > easy to identify the individual, the player at or next to the ball
• "slowly returning to the own half after scoring a goal" > not so easy to identify a individual, as referree I would punish the player most away from center line.

"Penalty to the team as a whole." This would start a new kind of penalties, probably for small groups up to full teams (would also punish players not involved)

 "In that case, the team must choose which four players will continue play during the penalty period." This will not delay the effectiv play time but of course the time to play the game. What should be the time given the team has to decid which 4 players will continue and what is the tactic for the next 2 min?

Referees may issue an early warning if time-wasting will happen and if no quick reaction by the team referree should stop game asap. But this is an issue of good referring not of ruling.

 

 

Comment 30 Jun 15:12

I agree with many of the points raised by Nicolai and Herbie – especially regarding the rules that already address delays in the game. I also view it critically to issue team penalties where the team has to select a player arbitrarily. In my opinion, a penalty should be as targeted as possible and directly affect the player who is actually responsible for the delay.

Of course, it’s understandable that a team with a narrow lead may try to slow down the pace of the game towards the end, while the team that is behind tends to speed things up. That’s why I find it challenging to objectively assess when something becomes “intentional time-wasting.” This requires a lot of judgment and sensitivity from the referees.

In practice, I also observe that referees sometimes delay the restart after a goal, especially when a team is slow to return to its half or does not immediately appear ready to play. While this is understandable, it can lead to uncertainty for the team in possession of the ball, which might feel forced to hold back or even cancel an attacking move because they are used to a certain rhythm between a goal and the restart. This sometimes results in even more time being lost, for example when teams have to be called back to their own half before the game can resume.
In my view, it is important that the time between a goal and the restart is not unnecessarily long, while also avoiding overly strict expectations toward the teams.