<P> A standard adult football match consists of two halves of 45 minutes each . Each half runs continuously , meaning that the clock is not stopped when the ball is out of play . There is usually a 15 - minute half - time break between halves . The end of the match is known as full - time . The referee is the official timekeeper for the match , and may make an allowance for time lost through substitutions , injured players requiring attention , or other stoppages . This added time is called additional time in FIFA documents , but is most commonly referred to as stoppage time or injury time , while loss time can also be used as a synonym . The duration of stoppage time is at the sole discretion of the referee . Stoppage time does not fully compensate for the time in which the ball is out of play , a 90 minute game typically involves about an hour of `` effective playing time '' . The referee alone signals the end of the match . In matches where a fourth official is appointed , towards the end of the half the referee signals how many minutes of stoppage time he intends to add . The fourth official then informs the players and spectators by holding up a board showing this number . The signalled stoppage time may be further extended by the referee . Added time was introduced because of an incident which happened in 1891 during a match between Stoke and Aston Villa . Trailing 1 -- 0 and with just two minutes remaining , Stoke were awarded a penalty . Villa 's goalkeeper kicked the ball out of the ground , and by the time the ball had been recovered , the 90 minutes had elapsed and the game was over . The same law also states that the duration of either half is extended until the penalty kick to be taken or retaken is completed , thus no game shall end with a penalty to be taken . </P>
<P> A standard adult football match consists of two halves of 45 minutes each . Each half runs continuously , meaning that the clock is not stopped when the ball is out of play . There is usually a 15 - minute half - time break between halves . The end of the match is known as full - time . The referee is the official timekeeper for the match , and may make an allowance for time lost through substitutions , injured players requiring attention , or other stoppages . This added time is called additional time in FIFA documents , but is most commonly referred to as stoppage time or injury time , while loss time can also be used as a synonym . The duration of stoppage time is at the sole discretion of the referee . Stoppage time does not fully compensate for the time in which the ball is out of play , a 90 minute game typically involves about an hour of `` effective playing time '' . The referee alone signals the end of the match . In matches where a fourth official is appointed , towards the end of the half the referee signals how many minutes of stoppage time he intends to add . The fourth official then informs the players and spectators by holding up a board showing this number . The signalled stoppage time may be further extended by the referee . Added time was introduced because of an incident which happened in 1891 during a match between Stoke and Aston Villa . Trailing 1 -- 0 and with just two minutes remaining , Stoke were awarded a penalty . Villa 's goalkeeper kicked the ball out of the ground , and by the time the ball had been recovered , the 90 minutes had elapsed and the game was over . The same law also states that the duration of either half is extended until the penalty kick to be taken or retaken is completed , thus no game shall end with a penalty to be taken . </P>
how many minutes are in a professional soccer game
how many minutes are in a professional soccer game
two halves of 45 minutes each
two halves of 45 minutes each