MLS lobbying Ifab to explore stopping clock for pauses in play
Summary
Major League Soccer (MLS) has talked with the International Football Association Board (Ifab), which sets soccer rules worldwide, about testing a stopped clock that pauses during game delays. This idea could help reduce time-wasting and improve the flow and fairness of games, but it is not widely supported yet.Key Facts
- MLS wants to try using a stopped clock that pauses for fouls, injuries, and other delays, unlike the current continuous running clock.
- Stopped clocks are common in American sports like basketball and football and were used in MLS from 1996 to 1999.
- MLS officials are discussing innovations with Ifab, including stopped clocks and better ways to keep track of game time.
- Ifab considered stopped clocks in 2017 but rejected them mainly because of concerns about game lengths affecting TV broadcasts.
- Some within Ifab also believe a 90-minute continuous match is a core part of soccer tradition.
- MLS often tests new rules in its developmental league, MLS Next Pro, before proposing them globally.
- MLS helped introduce video assistant referee (VAR) technology to soccer, showing its role in trialing new ideas.
- Implementing a stopped clock in top-level soccer would require approval from Ifab and a period of trials and data review.
Read the Full Article
This is a fact-based summary from The Actual News. Click below to read the complete story directly from the original source.