Abstract
The intention of the present study was to examine, if interruptions are used as a tactical means in international competitions and if law changes influence the duration. Therefore, the 32 matches of the knockout stage of the FIFA World Cups 2006 and 2014 were analysed and compared. Free kicks in 2014, when vanishing spray was used, took significantly longer than in 2006 (P < .01). Players were substituted faster by teams behind than at even score (P < .01), but not slower by leading teams (P > .05). The number of injuries with medical intervention was significantly higher for teams ahead than for teams behind (P < .05). When injured players had to be carried off the field by law in 2006, play was continued faster than in 2014 (P < .05). Overall, in 2014 leading teams used game stoppages more intensively to kill time than in 2006. To hinder this undesired development officials could think about introducing the concept of net playing time. At least referees should be sensitised for this behaviour even more than nowadays.
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