After football lawmakers rejected the idea on Thursday morning, half-times will no longer be increased from 15 to 25 minutes.
The news that CONMEBOL, South America’s governing body of football, had requested the International Football Association Board, to reconsider the lengthening of the intervals, was criticized by supporters.
This would have allowed football to offer half-time entertainment in Super Bowl style, but fans criticized it as an attempt to “Americanize” the game.
After being brought up at IFAB’s Annual Business Meeting chaired FIFA by the world governing body FIFA where possible changes in the law of the game were discussed, it has now been thrown out.
The proposal to extend half-time to 25 minutes was rejected due to the “potentially negative effect on player welfare, safety and security resulting from longer periods of inactivity”.
Half-time has not been increased from 15 minutes up to 25. Football leaders have decided to keep it at the same time.
Officials dismissed this controversial suggestion to show more supporter enthusiasm
CONMEBOL argued that it would be beneficial to their competitions including Copa Libertadores which will take place this weekend between Palmeiras & Flamengo.
It would be more entertaining for the fans at home and in the stadium, they felt, due to how it has been received in other sports like the Super Bowl.
Sportsmail has reported that IFAB’s advisory panel had expressed concerns earlier in this week about how this could lead to more injuries for players during the second half. The current laws of the game, which state ‘players are entitled to an interval at half time, not exceeding 15 minutes’, will now stay the same.
The proposal would have a negative impact on the welfare of players, according to a meeting.
Supporters criticized it as an attempt to market the game.
A longer time between halves would allow football to earn more.
In the NFL, half-times usually last 12 minutes. They can, however, last as long as 30 minutes in the Super Bowl. Advertisers paid $5.5million for a 30-second spot in 2021, when The Weeknd was performing.
The idea of ‘Americanizing’ the game with Super Bowl-style entertainment angered fans. Pictured is The Weeknd performing at the Super Bowl halftime show.