The short answer
Under IFAB Law 7, the referee adds time lost in each half through substitutions, injuries, time-wasting, sanctions, medical breaks, VAR checks, goal celebrations and other significant delays. The fourth official's board shows the minimum additional time, not a countdown that forces the whistle at zero. If more time is lost during that period, the referee may extend it. A half may also be extended for a penalty kick to be completed.
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A match is two 45-minute halves, not 90 uninterrupted minutes
Law 7 sets two equal halves of 45 minutes for the standard game. The clock continues through most stoppages, so the referee makes an allowance at the end of each half.
This is different from sports that stop the visible game clock whenever the ball is dead. Added time reconciles a running clock with time lost to specified delays.
Law 7 lists what counts as lost time
The categories include substitutions, assessment and removal of injured players, time-wasting, disciplinary sanctions, approved drinks or cooling breaks, VAR checks and reviews, goal celebrations and other significant delays.
The referee considers loss in the half where it occurred. First-half delays do not roll into the end of the second half.
The board shows a minimum
At the end of the final minute, the fourth official displays the minimum additional time decided by the referee. If the board shows six, the half should contain at least six added minutes.
It is not a promise that the whistle will sound at exactly 96:00. A new injury, substitution or VAR review during those six minutes creates more lost time.
The referee owns the time decision
The fourth official communicates the number, but the referee keeps the match time and decides the allowance. Broadcast clocks are informative rather than authoritative.
Law 5 gives the referee final authority over match facts. That is why a television clock reaching the displayed number does not itself end play.
A penalty can extend the half
If a penalty kick must be taken or retaken at the end of a half, Law 7 extends the period until the kick is completed. The special completion rules determine when that sequence ends.
This connects directly to the penalty-kick rules, but it is not open-ended ordinary play after the kick.
Added time is not extra time
Added or stoppage time belongs to each normal half. Extra time is a competition method for resolving a draw, usually two additional 15-minute periods, and those periods receive their own added time.
The football rules overview separates match duration from tie-breaking. Calling both “overtime” hides which clock rule is operating.
Precision still involves judgement
Officials can record identifiable delays, but judging when a delay begins and how much playing time it costs is not perfectly mechanical. The law asks for an allowance, not a reconstruction to the millisecond.
The word minimum absorbs that reality: the board communicates a floor while the referee remains responsible for further time lost before the whistle.
Frequently asked questions
Is added time the same as extra time?
No. Added time compensates for delays within a half; extra time is an additional pair of periods used by some competitions to decide a tied match.
Why does play continue past the number shown?
The board states a minimum, and the referee adds further time lost after it is displayed.
Who decides the amount?
The referee decides; the fourth official communicates the minimum.
Do goal celebrations count?
Yes. Significant time lost to celebrations is included.
Can the referee reduce displayed added time?
The displayed figure is the minimum and should not be shortened, though an obvious timing error may be corrected under the Laws.
Can a half continue for a penalty kick?
Yes. Law 7 allows the half to be extended for a penalty kick to be taken and completed.