Warning on game time

FROM JOHN CROSS in Doha PLAYERS could suffer the “consequences” of a new crackdown on stoppage time, warns Gareth Southgate.

England had 14 minutes of added time in the first half against Iran and 10 minutes at the end, as FIFA want to cut out time-wasting.

Three Lions boss Southgate said: “It seems to be it’s a consequence of quite a few things. There’s the VAR, there’s been the substitutions.

“Clearly, FIFA have noted how much game time is being lost, leading into the tournament in some big games, and they’re trying to affect that, but it does make a difference.

“You look at substitutions, for example. You think maybe you’ve got 10 minutes to go and actually maybe we’ve got 25 minutes to go the other day, so there is a consequence to all of that on hydration for the players, supplements for players on the pitch.

“It’s a different dynamic that I think all teams will be trying to adjust to and follow closely.”