FIFA instructs referees to clamp down on time wasting

England and the Republic of Ireland face the prospect of matches lasting 100 minutes or more at the Women’s World Cup.

Referees are under instruction to clamp down on time-wasting just as they were at the men’s finals in Qatar last year, Football Mad understands.

FIFA has told referees involved in this summer’s tournament that delays to play caused by substitutions, treatment to injured players, goal celebrations and VAR interventions should be added on at the end of each half.

FIFA referees’ chief Pierluigi Collina is leading the drive to make sure time is added on accurately at the end of each half (Aaron Chown/PA)

In Qatar that led to 11 minutes being added on to matches on average, with 27 extra minutes played in England’s opening game of the tournament against Iran.

Referees will also be under instruction to be proactive at restarts in play such as free-kicks, throw-ins and corners, and to enforce the six-second rule governing how long a goalkeeper can hold onto the ball before releasing it.

Two major differences in Australia and New Zealand compared to Qatar will be referees announcing the final decision after an on-field review, and clamping down on goalkeepers who try to distract the kicker in a penalty shoot-out.

Referees will tell the crowd in the stadium and the television audience the final decision they have reached and why, following an on-field review. This continues a trial which started at the men’s Club World Cup in Morocco in February.

VAR decisions which do not require an on-field review, such as offside calls, will not be communicated verbally by the referee but graphic illustrations of tight calls will appear on big screens, with semi-automated offside technology in use at these finals.

Referees will clamp down on goalkeepers who attempt to distract penalty takers, like Emiliano Martinez did in Qatar (Martin Rickett/PA)

The game’s lawmakers have sought to clamp down on goalkeepers attempting to distract penalty takers in a shoot-out, following the antics of Argentina goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez in the men’s World Cup final against France.

A referee would initially give a warning, followed by a yellow card, followed by a red if the initial warning is not heeded.

It is extremely unlikely a goalkeeper would be sent off during the shoot-out, as any yellow card issued during the regular match or extra-time is wiped before heading into the shoot-out.

If the goalkeeper did still manage to get themselves sent off, one of the outfield players already on the pitch would have to replace them in goal.