Rangers expert makes ‘nightmare’ claim as drastic rule change suggested
Former Rangers and Aston Villa defender Alan Hutton has claimed a stop clock to prevent timewasting would be a “nightmare”.
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the ex-Premier League right-back insisted competitions need to make better use of the multi-ball system instead of adding on time.
According to Spanish outlet Marca (1 March), FIFA are seriously considering a game clock rule where the clock would be stopped when the ball goes out of play.
The idea comes from FIFA president Gianni Infantino who is desperate to curb time wasting in today’s game.
During the World Cup in Qatar officials were urged to more accurately calculate the time wasted in a game to be added on at the end and the result saw some games moving into over ten minutes of injury time.
The latest suggestion would go even further by stopping the clock any time the ball is out of play to allow for the full 90 minutes to be played.
In the Premier League, the average ball in play time in the 2022-23 season is just 51 minutes and 23 seconds, just below last season’s 55 minute average.
But Hutton insisted Fifa’s new suggestion is not the answer.
“I think it would be a nightmare,” he told Football Insider.
“Games would last forever if it stopped every time the ball went out.
“I understand they want the ball to be in play more, if they can maybe make use of the multi-ball system more, try and get the ball back in as quick as possible.
“I think that is a better option because if it was to stop you would be adding 20-25 minutes on. As a player it is difficult enough.
“It is very hard on the body to go for that length of time over the course of a season. If they can use the multi-ball system better I think that would be a better idea.“
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