IF you have the ear of one of football’s most powerful men, you can make things happen.
And David Dein’s relationship with Arsene Wenger could lead to the biggest change the game has EVER seen.
Former Arsenal vice-chairman Dein is convinced the end of football being a 90-minute game is the way forward.
Dein and Wenger were Gunners colleagues for more than a decade and have been friends for nearly 30 years.
So when Dein asks Wenger, Fifa’s head of global football development and a key member of law-making body the International FA Board, to consider making football a 60-minute game, it will be taken seriously.
Dein’s argument is a simple one.
It is unfair to expect referees to also allocate the precise amount of additional time to make up for delays, time-wasting and ‘dark arts’.
Dein said: “I’ve asked all the refs in the Premier League, when the fourth official puts up the board for two, three or, four minutes, is that accurate to the last ten seconds?
“The answer is ‘No, no chance’.
“We should be able to know how long a game of football lasts — so my campaign is very simple.
“The average length of time a ball is in play in the Premier League and most western European games is around about 55 to 57 minutes.
“I would like to see a real-time two halves of 30 minutes, where the ball is in play for 30 minutes each half.
“Let’s have a clock where we can all see how much time is left.”
Dein says analysis of the second half of England’s Euro 2024 final loss to Spain makes his points.
In total, the three goal celebrations, substitutions and stoppages after fouls meant more than nine minutes of playing time were lost, in addition to time for throw-ins and goal-kicks. But French referee Francois Letexier added just FOUR minutes after the 90.
Dein added: “A goal celebration is normally two minutes, a VAR check could be two minutes, injuries could be a minute or two, plus subs. Over a game, that’s at least ten minutes.
“That is ALWAYS more than the time that is actually added on.
“So I’d like to see time stopping when there is time being lost.
“The fans will get value for money, they would get an extra ten minutes of football.”
Dein is one of the game’s movers and shakers and is on first-name terms with Fifa and Uefa figures.
That allowed him to lobby Wenger and Ifab to give his idea a go.
Dein continued: “I’ve spoken to Howard Webb and Anthony Taylor, who said they were in favour.
“The next thing is for Ifab to agree to trial it.
“That could be anywhere but I’ve already talked to the Dutch league.”
AlvinsM
1
This Dein guy is silly. It seems stupidity comes with age
sereze
1
The football will be boring. Mean the time will be too short to enjoy soccer.
homdilpstz
2
just wondering if this is also part of end time,why everything is reading to 666?
misaknrtz
0
How about when the whistle blows, the clock stops; AND and when the ball goes back in play whether a throw in, corner kick whatever, the clock somehow starts back up again. it's not that difficult
that is the best idea, i support that one.
misaknrtz
0
The best way to handle this problem is for the ref and fourth official to have to watches, one continuously running as it is now, while one is stopped every time the ball is dead(out of play) en started as soon as the ball is alive(in play) started and the 90 minutes will be use correctly.
wukblmn
0
I’ve watched a game where 9mins of added time was wasted over throw ins and goal kicks …. The solution I think is for refs to add additional time even after extra time in such circumstances
Sure and also harsh penalties for d time wasters also
DrHalaMsdrid
1
I’ve watched a game where 9mins of added time was wasted over throw ins and goal kicks …. The solution I think is for refs to add additional time even after extra time in such circumstances
AUWALMUSA3132
0
How about when the whistle blows, the clock stops; AND and when the ball goes back in play whether a throw in, corner kick whatever, the clock somehow starts back up again. it's not that difficult
That's what he meant too
Cihdeikloy
0
Nice suggestion. It would be like T20 in cricket. Like watching highlights instead of a whole match. Always wondered how they do it? Look what happened to Erikson. More competitions can potentially be squeezed in as well.
tezaceklos
2
Rubbish suggestion.
Rosado1976
3
How about when the whistle blows, the clock stops; AND and when the ball goes back in play whether a throw in, corner kick whatever, the clock somehow starts back up again. it's not that difficult
humadcast
0
Reducing the match time to 30 mins, would also benefit players from burning out, considering the number of matches being played and the constant cribbing