Aydın Tiryaki (2026)
Football is often viewed as a sport deeply rooted in tradition, where rules change at a glacial pace. However, there are times when the convergence of logic, fairness, and technology makes change inevitable. Today, the concept of “effective playing time” is calculated with near-engineering precision in modern football. Yet, years ago, this was a task managed solely by a single referee on the pitch, often leading to inconsistency.
Approximately 18 years ago, on April 6, 2008, I published an article on Milliyet Blog titled “90 Artı Kaç?” (90 Plus What?). In that piece, I proposed a solution to what was then a chronic issue in our football: arbitrary stoppage time calculations.
From an engineering perspective, I argued that the burden on the main referee was too great and proposed a systemic change:
“The responsibility of keeping time during stoppages should be entirely transferred to the 4th Official. When the referee blows the whistle to stop the game, the 4th Official should stop their chronometer and restart it only when play resumes. This way, time lost to fake injuries or slow movements can be added to the end of the match with mathematical precision.”
At that time, such a proposal might have seemed radical or “far-fetched.” The prevailing orthodoxy was that the referee on the pitch should have absolute authority, and external interference (even from a 4th official) was viewed as contrary to the spirit of the game.
History Validates Logic: The Era of VAR and AVAR
Years have passed, and the evolution of technology has proven the validity of that logic. The task I suggested be assigned to the “4th Official” in 2008 is now effectively performed by the AVAR (Assistant Video Assistant Referee) within the VAR system.
The transformation unfolded as follows:
- Introduction of Technology (2018): With the implementation of VAR, the absolute authority of the pitch referee was shared with an “external eye” for the first time.
- The Qatar 2022 Revolution: Under the directive of FIFA Referees Committee Chairman Pierluigi Collina, a mandate was issued to calculate “effective playing time” with extreme precision during the 2022 World Cup.
- Current Application: Today, every second spent on goal celebrations, substitutions, injuries, and VAR reviews is tracked by the AVAR in the control room. The +7 or +10 minutes we see on the board are no longer based on the referee’s “estimation” but on precise data collected by the AVAR and communicated to the 4th Official.
The Verdict
The principle I advocated in 2008—“Let an external, pressure-free observer manage the time”—is now the global standard. The main referee manages the game flow, while the calculation of lost time is handled externally and displayed by the 4th Official.
This demonstrates a crucial lesson: A logical, systemic solution does not expire; it merely waits for the necessary technology to catch up. What we proposed as a task for the “4th Official” in 2008 has materialized today through the AVAR system. This proves that in football, as in life, rational ideas eventually find their place in practice.
References:
- Tiryaki, A. (2008). 90 Artı Kaç? (90 Plus What?). Milliyet Blog. Available at: https://blog.milliyet.com.tr/90-arti-kac-/Blog/?BlogNo=102457
A Note on Methods and Tools: All observations, ideas, and solution proposals in this study are the author’s own. AI was utilized as an information source for researching and compiling relevant topics strictly based on the author’s inquiries, requests, and directions; additionally, it provided writing assistance during the drafting process. (The research-based compilation and English writing process of this text were supported by AI as a specialized assistant.)
Aydın Tiryaki 