MLS has had discussions with the International Football Association Board, global soccer’s rule making body, about “trialing the use of a stopped clock in matches,” according to Maurer & Hughes of the London GUARDIAN. A continuously running clock that does “not stop for fouls, set pieces, injuries and the like is foundational to the way time has been kept in the sport almost from its inception.” However, the use of a clock that stops “is commonplace in other American sports.” MLS VP/Competition Paul Grafer noted reintroducing a stopped clock is “one thing that we often talk about” when discussing the game’s future. Grafer said, “When are we going to move away from all of these stopgap procedures and see if we can address gamesmanship and match manipulation by having the referee have a [stopped] clock? We’re open to trials around the world, and working with IFAB.” In a statement, MLS EVP/Sporting Development Ali Curtis confirmed the league has had “preliminary conversations with IFAB around future areas of innovation, including concepts such as a stopped clock, increased transparency around timekeeping, and other measures designed to improve consistency and fan understanding.” An IFAB source said that, in their view, MLS “would face an uphill battle” in terms of implementing any significant changes to timekeeping (London GUARDIAN, 5/20).
MLS talking with IFAB about trialing stopped clock
