Hughes calls for timekeeping change
Mark Hughes fumes after Michael Owen's late goal
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By inthenews. |  |
Tuesday, 22, Sep 2009 05:06
By Michael Younger.
Manchester City manager Mark Hughes believes that it would be beneficial for the game if the allocation of added time became the responsibility of an independent body.
There have been suggestions that an independent time keeper could be appointed to clear a grey area in the rules, but the Professional Game Match Officials Board has said that such appointment is a matter for Fifa to consider.
Hughes said: "There is a little bit of an area that needs a little bit of a clarification for everyone.
"When people are putting a board up and it is in lights and there is an amount of time shown for everyone, then it can cause confusion if that allotted time is exceeded."
Hughes calls for a change in time-keeping come after he watched his Manchester City side crash to local rivals Manchester United after Michael Owen rolled back the years, collecting a diagonal pass by Ryan Giggs, and placing the ball past Shay Given and into the net for a thrilling 4-3 win.
As Sir Alex Ferguson set off on an impromptu dance along the touchline and Gary Neville celebrated in a wild manner, Hughes was left fuming and demanding to know how the crucial moment of an awe-inspiring game could come almost six minutes into the four-minute stoppage time period.
Hughes added: "If you are looking at a different system whereby the allocation of time is taken over by someone else, then maybe that would help.
"I'm not saying I'm advocating it, but maybe that is an alternative that can be investigated."