By Martin Graham
Time management has always been part of football, but in the Premier League this season the subject has drawn increasing attention. While the title race and relegation battle dominate headlines, the issue of delays during matches has become one of the league’s most discussed topics.
The conversation intensified after Brighton & Hove Albion head coach Fabian Hurzeler criticised the situation following his side’s 1-0 defeat to Arsenal. Hurzeler argued that clearer limits should be established by the competition and referees, suggesting opponents are currently able to slow the game without sufficient consequences.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta rejected the accusation and defended his players’ approach. According to Arteta, the criticism directed at his team shows how much attention Arsenal’s players receive.
Although slowing the pace of the game is against the laws of football, it has long existed as an unofficial tactic. Supporters often accept it when it benefits their team, especially late in matches when protecting an important result.
However, the debate has grown stronger this season. With ticket prices and subscription costs rising, some fans question whether they are getting the full value of the advertised 90 minutes of football.
Statistics show mixed picture of time in play
Looking strictly at the numbers, the situation is not entirely straightforward. According to Opta data, the average time the ball has been in play during Premier League matches this season is 55 minutes and 31 seconds.
That figure is slightly lower than in the previous two seasons but still far from the lowest since Opta began tracking such data in the 2006-07 campaign. On the surface, the raw totals do not clearly suggest a dramatic decline in active play.
The statistic also includes play during stoppage time at the end of each half. Added time has grown significantly in recent years, largely because of the introduction of the video assistant referee, or VAR.
In fact, the six seasons with the highest average amount of additional time per game have all occurred since VAR arrived in the Premier League at the start of the 2019-20 season. When the time the ball is active is measured as a percentage of total match duration, the current campaign ranks among the lowest recorded.
Delays and stoppages remain part of the discussion
Not every interruption is deliberate. Injuries and other genuine stoppages frequently halt matches. An example came during a January goalless draw between Arsenal and Liverpool at the Emirates Stadium.
During the closing moments, Arsenal’s Gabriel Martinelli pushed Liverpool defender Conor Bradley in an attempt to move him off the pitch more quickly. Martinelli received a booking for the incident and later apologised, while Bradley was eventually ruled out for the season because of a serious knee injury.
Looking at restart times, Liverpool records the quickest average delay in the division, taking 25.8 seconds before putting the ball back into play. Five clubs restart more slowly than Arsenal, while Sunderland has the longest average delay at 33.1 seconds.
Since Opta began monitoring these delays in the 2017-18 season, the league-wide average has gradually risen in most campaigns. This season it stands at a record 29.2 seconds. Yet the numbers include pauses for VAR reviews, making it difficult to separate enforced stoppages from deliberate attempts to slow the game.
Rule changes aim to reduce disruption
Football authorities have already begun introducing measures designed to keep matches moving. At the start of the current season, a rule was introduced requiring goalkeepers to release the ball within eight seconds while holding it in their hands.
If that limit is exceeded, the opposing side is awarded a corner kick. The measure is intended to discourage goalkeepers from deliberately delaying restarts.
Further adjustments are on the way. The International Football Association Board recently approved new proposals aimed at limiting what it describes as disruptions to the tempo of matches and unnecessary loss of time.
From 1 June — including during this summer’s FIFA World Cup — referees will introduce five-second countdowns for goalkeepers taking goal kicks and for players preparing throw-ins.
Substituted players will also be expected to leave the field within ten seconds. If they exceed that limit, the incoming replacement must wait at least one minute before entering the pitch, meaning the team temporarily continues with one fewer player.
While these steps could help maintain the rhythm of games, the broader use of VAR might still slow proceedings. At the upcoming World Cup, the system will also review corner decisions and second yellow cards. Individual competitions must decide whether to adopt those changes, and the Premier League is not currently expected to implement them.