English FA, fans, against 20 minute half-time

The English Football Association says it plans to oppose forecast plans to extend the half-time interval from 15 to 20 minutes, a proposal that has been slammed by fans.

The idea, which is backed by FIFA chief executive Sepp Blatter with an eye on extra advertising revenue, is due to be raised at an International Football Association Board meeting in Belfast next week.

Senior figures within the English game feel it takes scant regard of supporters’ needs, particularly in countries with less temperate climates, such as the UK.

And the idea of fans being forced to spend an extra five minutes waiting for the second half to start is not one that appeals.

Publicly, the FA are steering a delicate political path but privately it is thought they will lobby hard to retain the status quo.

“It is very unlikely we will be supporting it in the discussions next week,” said an FA spokesman.

“We are mindful of supporters’ views and also our clubs in the Premier League.”

The stance will be welcomed by Premier League chief executive Richard Scudamore who has also spoken out against the move.

“We wouldn’t be in favour of that at all,” he told BBC Radio Five.

“It is up before the International Board but we believe 15 minutes is enough.

“It is all very well for a percentage of people who can escape back into the warm and do various things in that time and I am sure it has got some merits somewhere but I think we support the Football Supporters’ Federation here.

“We don’t think it has got merit.”

Extending the break by five minutes would not go down well with fans, Malcolm Clarke, chair of the Football Supporters federation, said.

“It it is primarily for commercial reasons most supporters will be against it,” he told The Observer on Sunday.