Subject: Alex Ferguson Time

6 extra minutes vs Man City. I used to think that "Alex Ferguson time" at the end of games at Old Trafford was a myth - I'm starting to wonder otherwise now.

Why did they give 6 extra minutes ? Was it the fans ? Was it such a good game that the ref didn't want it to end ? Or was it a paper bag full of 50s ?

Edit : This sums it up nicely I think :

"United boss Sir Alex Ferguson set off on an impromptu wild dance along the touchline - while City counterpart Mark Hughes immediately demanded to know how the decisive moment of a thrilling game could come almost six minutes into four minutes of stoppage time."
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definitely c ;)
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it was explained on MOTD2 last night.

4 minutes injury time.
Bellamys goal took 58 seconds to restart
Man City did a sub in injury time which means +30 seconds.

So in total 5 minutes and 28 seconds should have been played.
Owen scored in 5mins and 29 seconds. The ref was never going to blow as Owen pulled the trigger in front of goal.

Bellamys goal took 58 seconds to restart ? Since when do they take that into account ?

That would have meant an extra 5 minutes in the second half when Norwich lost 7-1 to Colchester - thankfully the ref saw sense and ended the pain.
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they're meant to take it in to account when calculating the time to be added on... then once time added on is being played they should to allow for further subs, etc.

You answered your own question, but it does make you wonder, what exactly is included in time added on? Studies show that the ball is in play for around 60-70 minutes per game, so it can't be everything. You'd admit, though, that if your opponent got a "winning" goal at the turn of the final minute of stoppage time, and then blew up as soon as the game restarted you'd be a bit miffed.

Sounds like someone using the letter of the law to cover the refs' arse to me :)

are you suggesting I may be biased in this case? :)

Too much time on my hands... from the FA rules and regulations.

Under Law 7 : Duration of the match
Allowance for Time Lost
Allowance is made in either period for all time lost through:
• substitutions
• assessment of injury to players
• removal of injured players from the field of play for treatment
• wasting time
• any other cause
The allowance for time lost is at the discretion of the referee.

Under 'Interpretation of the Laws of the Game and guidelines for referees'
Allowance for time lost
Many stoppages in play are entirely natural (e.g. throw-ins, goal kicks). An allowance is to be made only when these delays are excessive.
The fourth official indicates the minimum additional time decided by the referee at the end of the final minute of each period of play.
The announcement of the additional time does not indicate the exact amount of time left in the match. The time may be increased if the referee considers it appropriate but never reduced.
The referee must not compensate for a timekeeping error during the first half by increasing or reducing the length of the second half.

So, basically the ref can do what he sees fit!

ye, but why in every other game but theres is this allowed?????!! i hate the same old thing all the tim its so boring same old story year after bloody year!!

Can Vilpu translate this please?

Eh?

I cannot read his English and i thought it would be nice (and mainly amusing) for a foreigner with a good grasp of the language to help me out.

Never mind little mattius...I have no idea what he tried to say. That`s the negative side, when you are only 8 and you have missed your English lessons at school.

It's about frustration and the flow of the time, I guess.

thanks borkos, its mindless astonishment and anger that the cheats get away with it again, that its one set of rules for them, and anouther for everyone else and i for one am sick of it!