Football matches to be reduced from 90 minutes under radical proposal submitted to IFAB

One of the biggest rule changes in the history of football could be set to come into effect due to the relationship between two Premier League greats.

Former Arsenal vice-chairman David Dein is an adamant supporter of a new proposal to reduce the amount of time for a football match from 90 minutes.

Following his time with the Gunners, Dein has maintained a close relationship with club legend Arsene Wenger who he worked alongside for for more than a decade and has stayed friends with for nearly 30 years.

And, with Wenger now sitting as Fifa’s head of global football development and a major figure in the law-making body the International FA Board, it is very likely that he will strongly consider Dein's proposal.

Dein believes that it is unfair to expect referees to be able to accurately add the correct amount of additional time at the end of each half, and instead he argues two real-time 30 minute halves should be played.

Discussing his proposal on talkSPORT's Sunday Edition, the 81-year-old said: “I’ve asked all the refs in the Premier League, when the fourth official puts up the board for two, three or, four minutes, is that accurate to the last ten seconds?

“The answer is ‘No, no chance’.

“We should be able to know how long a game of football lasts — so my campaign is very simple.

“The average length of time a ball is in play in the Premier League and most western European games is around about 55 to 57 minutes.

“I would like to see a real-time two halves of 30 minutes, where the ball is in play for 30 minutes each half.

“Let’s have a clock where we can all see how much time is left.”

Dein used the England’s Euro 2024 final loss to Spain to illustrate his point of view, explaining that more than nine minutes of playing time were lost during the match, but only four extra minutes were played at the end of 90 minutes.

David Dein maintains a close relationship with Arsene Wenger who could play a key role in considering his friend's controversial proposal. (Image: Getty)

He continued: “A goal celebration is normally two minutes, a VAR check could be two minutes, injuries could be a minute or two, plus subs. Over a game, that’s at least ten minutes.

“That is ALWAYS more than the time that is actually added on.

“So I’d like to see time stopping when there is time being lost.

And Dein confirmed that he has already discussed the idea with two of the Premier League's top referees, adding:“I’ve spoken to Howard Webb and Anthony Taylor, who said they were in favour.

“The next thing is for Ifab to agree to trial it."