De Bruyne claims more added time ‘doesn’t make sense’ as players hit out

Kevin De Bruyne has said the new approach to added time “doesn’t make any sense” and believes up to 25 minutes could be added on to some games.

Competitions around the world have been instructed to more accurately calculate time lost to stoppages, including goal celebrations and VAR checks. Arsenal equalised in the 11th of 13 added minutes at the end of Sunday’s Community Shield against Manchester City and went on to win on penalties.

The change follows a directive from the game’s lawmaking body, the International Football Association Board, which believes it will lead to a reduction in time-wasting and an increase in effective playing time. The move was largely positively received when trialled at last year’s men’s World Cup in Qatar.

“We spoke to the Arsenal players and even the referees [about it] – they don’t even want to do it, but it’s the new rule and it’s what it is,” De Bruyne said. “A game like today, even the first half with three minutes extra, you can only guess what’s going to happen if you play a lower team who keep time-wasting all the time.

“Today we played 12 to 13 minutes. I can see games going for 20-25 minutes [extra]. I think this will change in one to two months, but this is the first game. I’m thinking if we play Sevilla in Olympiakos [in the Uefa Super Cup] on Wednesday [16 August] and have 15-20 extra minutes and then play on Saturday again [against Newcastle] it’s like two times extra time. We’ll see how it goes, but it doesn’t make any sense.”

Players from the Manchester clubs met the Professional Footballers’ Association chief executive, Maheta Molango, last week and expressed concerns.

At the PFA meeting was the Manchester United defender Raphaël Varane, who tweeted on Monday: “From the managers and players, we have shared our concerns for many years now that there are too many games, the schedule is overcrowded, and it’s at a dangerous level for players’ physical and mental well-being.

“Despite our previous feedbacks, they have now recommended for next season: longer games, more intensity, and less emotions to be shown by players. We just want to be in good condition on the pitch to give 100 per cent to our club and fans. Why are our opinions not being heard?”

Fifa found at the Qatar World Cup that as players became used to the new approach, the time added on dropped. The Community Shield lasted 105 minutes and 45 seconds, much longer than last season’s average Premier League game, which was 98 minutes and 31 seconds.