“Clock-watching. It’s a cherished element of the workday for uninspired office employees, but for referees, timekeeping is serious business. And this season, their handling of it is under more scrutiny than ever. That is because the International Football Association Board (IFAB), the body that sets the sport’s laws, introduced a suite of tweaks this season designed to curb time-wasting. These measures include a 10-second limit for substituted players when leaving the pitch. If they take longer, their replacement is not allowed to enter the pitch for a further minute. Referees have also been instructed to use five-second countdowns for goal kicks and throw-ins. …”
NYT/ATH (Video)