FIFA TO LOOK AT 60 MINUTES

Soccer’s rule-making panel wants debate on moving to 60-minute games and stopping the clock when the ball is not in play. Playing two halves each of 30 minutes’ actual playing time would be a radical change to the Laws of Football, the FIFA-supported International Football Association Board acknowledged. It is featured in a five-year strategy document of talking points and proposals with three goals — to increase respect, playing time and attractiveness of the game. Any changes would take years to enact after discussions and trials overseen by IFAB, which revises the sport’s laws annually and includes officials from FIFA and the four British football federations. Fans have become frustrated that soccer games of 90 regulation minutes plus time added for stoppages at referees’ discretion typi- cally produce “fewer than 60 minutes of effective (actual) playing time,” IFAB said.