'We might have games that go to the next day' - Celtic's Ange Postecoglou on need for different approach to time-wasting

Not how you finish but how you start is where Celtic manager Ange Postecoglou feels the solution to time lost in games through stoppages can be found.

Ange Postecoglou promotes the Celtic Foundation Christmas Appeal success in raising £385,000 at the club's Lennoxtown training ground. (Photo by Alan Harvey / SNS Group)

At the World Cup, FIFA attempted to have the ball in-play more – and stymie time-wasting tactics – by instructing officials to increase significantly time added on. Postecoglou does not want that replicated in Scottish football as he is convinced an alternative approach would resolve the issue.

“We might have some games that go into the next day, mate,” he said of the Qatar approach being copied in this country. “I’m not a fan of it. I’d rather the referees just hurried the game up. I think that’s where part of the problem lies, especially early in games, when the referees aren’t as strict. Then all of a sudden you get to the end and they’re hurrying goalkeepers up, hurrying throw-ins up. You think, well, ‘do that at the beginning and you will get more game-time’.

“Ultimately, that’s what you want. That’s what supporters want, it’s what football is all about. So rather than having 10 minutes added at the end, I would rather referees just hurried people along. If they need to do a caution or two at the start of the game, players who are taking liberties will cut it out. They won’t do it. You will still get your traditional two/three minutes of unavoidable extra time. That’s my frustration. I see it all the time. Oppositions will take their time on goal kicks or throw-ins early in the game. Then later on, if they’re ahead, they’re screaming at the referee to hurry the game up.”