Source: REUTERS/Michaela Stache
[Saba Sports News] According to recent updates, the upcoming 2024 European Championship will undergo significant rule changes, abandoning the extended stoppage time practices of the World Cup and Premier League, and instead adopting the format of the Champions League. This European Championship will adhere to the Champions League’s regulations, refraining from adding additional time for goal celebrations, substitutions, injuries, penalties, and red cards beyond the standard 90 minutes. The decision to modify the rules was apparently influenced by the recent World Cup in Qatar, where unusually long stoppage times were employed, averaging over 11 and a half minutes, more than twice as long as the 2018 World Cup. This has been criticized by fans and met with controversy in the media. However, some argue that extended stoppage time can serve a purpose in maintaining the integrity of the game, ensuring a closer approximation of a complete 90-minute contest, reducing discontinuity caused by frequent interruptions, and enhancing fans’ appreciation of the game’s overall flow. It can also help mitigate the impact of delaying tactics, thereby promoting a more fair and just playing environment to a certain extent.