Manchester United interim manager Ralf Rangnick believes it would be a "nice idea" if a stop-clock system was introduced to the football laws to try and increase the amount of time that the ball is actually in play - but has conceded that it is unlikely.
In recent weeks, speculation has been mounting about the possibility of a stop-clock being introduced to the game, in a bid to try and cut out the amount of time wasting that goes on. In several games this season, there have been instances where the ball has been in play for less than 60 minutes of a 90-minute match.
Other sports across the globe feature stop-clock procedures, such as in ice hockey. It has been touted as a possible addition to football, but Rangnick is not convinced it will be introduced, even though he has hinted that he would welcome the idea.
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Rangnick told United's club website: "That's what is being done in ice hockey, for example, and in other sports. To be honest, I don’t see that happening in football because some games would not only last maybe 98 minutes, but probably 120 without additional time.
"I know it's being discussed and it might be a nice idea, but I think it will not happen. What is good in England compared to other leagues is the added time at the end is much longer than I was used to in Germany and I think that’s quite a good thing."
On the overall rule changes that are being made to football laws, Rangnick added: "We had those discussions in Germany and Europe with the change of the backpass rule and offside rule and five substitutions, and quite a few of those things have been done.
"I remember a couple of years ago saying how tall players are and goalkeepers are when the size of the goals had been decided upon in the soccer rules - one could also think about whether the goal could be a little higher and wider and taller in total because the goalkeepers and the players are on average taller than a hundred years ago.
"But again that would mean you'd have to change worldwide and I don’t know how many goals you’d have to change and replace, so I'm not sure it's a realistic thing to happen."
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