What is added time and how is it calculated in football?

Short answer: added time (also called stoppage time) is minutes added at the end of each half to make up for what was lost to stoppages. The referee decides how much to add based on what happened, and the number shown by the fourth official is a minimum, which can be extended. IFAB's Laws of the Game are the reference, and practice may vary by competition.

Why it exists

The pitch football clock runs almost without stopping, even when play is interrupted. So the referee adds, at the end of regular time, what was lost to certain stoppages, so that the effective playing time is closer to what was planned.

Stoppages taken into account

The Laws indicate that the referee must allow for time lost through, among others:

• Substitutions.
• Medical attention to injured players and their removal.
• Deliberate delay of play (time wasting).
• Cards and disciplinary measures.
• Goal celebrations.
• VAR reviews.
• Other causes that delay play.

How the referee decides

There is no exact formula or official per-second calculation. The referee observes the stoppages and makes an estimate. At the end of the half, the fourth official shows the minimum number of minutes to be played. If new stoppages occur during added time, the referee may extend it. The match ends when the referee blows the whistle, not when the board reaches zero.

Examples

Example 1. In a half with several substitutions, an injury with prolonged treatment and two VAR reviews, the referee may indicate a larger amount of added time.

Example 2. In a half with few stoppages, the added time is usually short.

Example 3. During added time, a goal happens with a long celebration. The referee may add that time, and the game extends beyond the number indicated.

Common doubts

• "It was X minutes, so it is over." The board indicates the minimum.
• "Added time is the same in both halves." No: it varies with what happened in each half.
• "The referee should count second by second." The Laws ask for reasonable compensation, not an exact count.

For other rule confusions, see the article on common mistakes in football and competitions on this site.