Silly question, but when they announce eight minutes of added time, what does eight mean?
I’m asking because of a match in Sweden. On Saturday, Brommapojkarna beat AIK Stockholm 6-5, away at AIK, in round 23. I noted everything down in my notebook, under the tab “impossible scores”, which I created specially on the 7:32 train. It was 0-0 at half-time. Then eleven goals in the second half. Brommapojkarna led 5-1 in the 70th minute. AIK came back, with Ayari three minutes later, then in the 81st and 83rd. Johan Hove made it 5-5 at 90+8.
Up to there, I’m following. Eight minutes announced, equaliser in the eighth. It’s even elegant.
And then Mads Hansen, Brommapojkarna’s right-back, scores the 5-6 at 90+9. One minute later. The eight minutes were already over.
I’m told it’s always been like this, that added time is a minimum, that the referee adds whatever he wants. Fine, but what does that mean? If eight means “at least eight”, why not announce “at least eight”? Basketball doesn’t have that, I looked: there is a clock, it counts down, when it reaches zero everybody goes home. Nobody scores at minus one second.
I also read what Simon Strand said, as reported by RMC Sport: “For the people who came today, it was money well spent. Until 5-1, it was fun. Then we had to fight to climb back up. After a match like that, I’m completely exhausted.” That, I understand. I’m exhausted just writing it down.
In my day, when it was over, it was over. We didn’t count in ninths of a minute.
I asked three colleagues at what minute a match is really over. Three answers. None of them was a number.
Before this match, Brommapojkarna were 11th and AIK 9th. Anyway, I still have a lot to learn.
It’s true, we checked: RMC Sport.
