Match data indicates that the average ball-in-play time in the Premier League has fallen to 54 minutes and 46 seconds this season. This figure represents the lowest recorded average since the 2010-11 campaign, according to Opta. Officials have noted a rise in delays during restarts, particularly for goal kicks and throw-ins.
Goal kicks now take an average of 31 seconds to complete, which is a four-second increase from the previous season, per Sky Sports. Statistics show that 14 percent of all match time is now lost to delays at restarts. Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) stated that referees have been instructed to be more proactive in issuing yellow cards for tactical delays.
Several managers expressed concerns regarding the value for money provided to supporters when active play occupies such a small portion of the 90-minute window. To combat these trends, officials are strictly monitoring goalkeepers who exceed the six-second rule and players who deliberately kick the ball away, according to The Guardian.
