FIFA has introduced a new stoppage time guideline at the 2022 Qatar World Cup which has seen the number of minutes lost during the match determining the added time.
The new tournament guideline aims to see as much playing time as possible according to FIFA referees’ chief Pierluigi Collina who explained that its purpose is “to offer more show to those watching the World Cup,” with hopes that it compensates “for time lost during games.”
“We’re going to take back the time of substitutions, penalties, celebrations, healthcare or VAR,” he said.
Zambia’s Napsa Stars FC coach Perry Mutapa has, however, commended the new guideline by FIFA and said he hopes it will also be introduced in the Zambian Super League.
“Last week when we lost I talked about the wasting of time whereby people come to watch matches for only 20 minutes,” he said, “the minutes that are being added [at the World cup] is a good thing for the fans, it’s good for football.”
“I was the first one to say that we are being subjected to playing matches for 20 or 30 minutes, it’s good that the referees are now being made to [compensate for the time lost] and I hope we are going to emulate that.”
Meanwhile, Mutapa’s side faces Nkana FC tomorrow at the National Heroes Stadium in Lusaka in a week 15 fixture of the Super League and he has expressed confidence that his team will produce a positive result after going five matches consecutively without a win.
He said, “It’s a very big game but we are planning to get maximum points, we at home, and a fair result for us will be a win.”
