FIFA withdraws its proposal of extending the half-time period

FIFA said Saturday having withdrawn its proposal to lengthen the half-time from 15 to 20 minutes, scheduled to be considered by the International Board (IFAB), a body of laws guaranteeing the game, held this Saturday in Northern Ireland.

•     The reasons for withdrawal were not specified in the press release.
  
      The proposal to extend the period from 15 to 20 minutes was justified initially by Fifa, by the long distance between locker rooms and the fields in some stadiums.
  
      This extension would have to earn additional advertising revenue, but was not necessarily welcomed by the spectators, especially in cold or rainy countries.
  
      The English Federation (FA) and the Premier League stood alongside the Federation of English football supporters, opposed to the project.
  
      In addition, the Board should also consider the proposal on Saturday to make a total of four replacements in case of additional time, the project submitted by the Scottish Federation. The latter was based on "increasing the number of matches" and "efforts related and requested from the players.
  
      Nothing has been decided yet about this on Saturday. The Board has only agreed that this proposal is now being reviewed by the committees of FIFA on the subject.
      
  Ennaharonline/ M. O.