Football is simple to watch but has terms that trip up new viewers and new players alike. This guide covers match length, stoppage time, extra time and penalties, the terms that come up most in sports sections and what to check before you read one.
A standard match is two halves of 45 minutes, plus stoppage time added by the referee for lost time. The side with more goals at the final whistle wins, and a draw is possible. Extra time and penalties apply only in some competitions, so the competition's own rules decide how a knockout tie is finished.
Football uses a small set of terms that appear in every match report and in most sports sections.
The end of normal play, after both halves and stoppage time. Competitions usually report league results at full time.
Extra minutes added by the referee at the end of each half to make up for lost time.
Two further 15-minute periods in knockout matches that are level after full time, where the competition uses them.
A shootout used in some knockout rounds when a match is still level after extra time.
The result is the score at the end of the period the competition counts. Some competitions count extra time and penalties, while others end the match at full time.
The official score when the referee ends the match, in the period the competition counts.
When a knockout tie is level, the competition's own rules decide whether extra time and penalties follow.
A competition can correct a result after a match. Check the competition's own record for the final status.
Football rules questions are best checked against the competition's own rules and the sports section of Stake's help centre. Account and payment questions go to Stake's support.
The sports topics of the help centre at help.stake.com cover the sports part of the site.
support@stake.com for account questions. Do not include a password or a two-factor code in the message.
The football rules described here are general match rules. This guide does not describe how any Stake sports selection is priced, settled or updated.
Halves, stoppage time, extra time and penalties are standard across most football competitions.
Each competition sets its own format, so that competition's rules govern any particular match.
Short definitions of the football words you will see most often.
One of two periods of 45 minutes in a standard football match.
Added minutes that the referee adds at the end of each half for lost time such as injuries and substitutions.
A match in which a team concedes no goals.
A match that ends with both teams on the same score.
Answers on match length, extra time and where to check the sports rules.
Two halves of 45 minutes, plus stoppage time added at the end of each half.
The competition decides. Many use extra time and then penalties, while some end the tie differently.
No. This page covers the rules of the game only and does not describe any Stake sports selection.
The sports section of the help centre at help.stake.com covers sports topics for players.
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