Fifa fights time-wasting

TheRe has been 64 minutes of added time after the first four World Cup games because of new Fifa guidelines, it was revealed.

More than an hour extra has been added on across the opening fixtures of the Qatar tournament, at an average of a sizeable eight minutes per half.

And as reported by

France Info, this phenomenon has come about due to Fifa rules being introduced aimed at maximising playing time and avoiding time-wasting.

Former top referee Pierluigi Collina, now chairperson of the

Fifa referees committee, insisted before the competition began that the governing body is aiming for more ballin-play time.

he said: 'We want to avoid matches at 42, 43, 44 minutes from effective time. So the times of substitutions, penalties, celebrations, medical treatment or of course VAR, will have to be compensated'.

A huge 27 minutes was added on to england's 6-2 win against Iran on Monday after Iran goalkeeper Alireza Beiranvand's head injury and knocks to harry Kane and harry Maguire, as well as several substitutions and five secondhalf goals.

While Davy Klaassen's goal for holland against Senegal, at 98 minutes 17 seconds, was the second latest goal (not including extra-time goals) ever scored at a World Cup since Opta records began in 1966.

And that is second because of Iran's Mehdi Taremi's penalty against england earlier on Monday came on 102 mins and 30 secs. This has resulted in players - including Wales' ethan Ampadu - collapsing with cramp, unable to continue and with his side having no subs left, due to the extra exertion needed. It is unclear why FIFA are unwilling to simply pause the clock, like in rugby.