The term "injury time" is used in football when the referee adds extra time at the end of each half due to stoppages, injuries or substitutions. The spelling of this word is pronounced as /ˈɪn.dʒər.i taɪm/ in IPA phonetic transcription. The "in" sound is pronounced as in "pin," the "jury" sound is pronounced as in "demure," and the "time" sound is pronounced as in "rhyme." It is important to spell the word correctly to avoid confusion in the context of football matches.
Injury time refers to the additional minutes or time added at the end of a football (soccer) match due to stoppages, injuries, and other unpredictable interruptions that occurred during the regulation 90 minutes of play. Generally known as "added time" or "stoppage time," it is allocated by the referee to compensate for the time lost during the game due to various reasons, ensuring fairness and the completion of the match.
Injury time is crucial because it gives teams the opportunity to compensate for lost playing time, injuries, and delays caused by minor incidents, substitutions, and disciplinary actions. The amount of injury time is determined solely by the referee based on their judgment of how much time has been wasted or needs to be allotted to the match.
The duration of injury time is typically displayed on a board held up by the fourth official on the side of the field. It is commonly added at the end of each half, but can also be added during half-time. Team managers and players must carefully manage and utilize this additional time to their advantage, whether by attempting to score goals or running down the clock to preserve a lead.
Injury time has the potential to drastically impact the outcome of a match, as it often arises during crucial moments or in tense situations. It adds an element of suspense and unpredictability to the game, allowing for last-minute comebacks or potential equalizers.
The term "injury time" originates from the sport of soccer (football). In soccer, "injury time" refers to the additional minutes that are added to the end of a half or a game to compensate for any time lost due to injuries, substitutions, or other stoppages during the regular playing time.
The etymology of "injury time" is straightforward; it is derived from the word "injury" and "time". The word "injury" comes from the Latin word "injurīa", which means "injustice" or "harm". It later evolved to refer specifically to physical harm or damage. The word "time" has Old English roots and traces back to the Germanic word "*tidiz", meaning "period" or "season".
Combining these two words, "injury time" signifies the additional period given due to injuries occurring during a match.