Why is a match 90 minutes, and who writes the laws?
Aug 22, 2026 · 17:05
Football's laws are still governed by an unusual eight-vote body - and the 90 minutes is a 19th-century legacy.
The framework of football as we know it was laid down in 19th-century England, and several elements - including the 90 minutes - have barely changed since.
The first rulebook
When the English association was founded in 1863, the laws of the game were codified for the first time. That was far from obvious at the time: different schools and clubs played their own versions, and the strand that allowed handling eventually became a separate sport, rugby.
Where does the 90 minutes come from?
Teams originally agreed the length of matches game by game. Ninety minutes became common practice and was then fixed as the laws were standardised, and it has been the benchmark of adult football ever since - split into two halves with a fifteen-minute interval.
Who decides on the laws today?
The laws are governed by IFAB, in which the four British associations hold one vote each and FIFA holds four. Any amendment requires six votes, so neither FIFA nor the British associations can push through changes alone. This unusual arrangement is why football's laws change far more slowly than in other sports.
What has changed?
Substitutions, red and yellow cards, the back-pass ban, three points for a win, goal-line technology and VAR are all relatively recent. The core of the game - ninety minutes, eleven players, offside, corners - has been recognisable for more than a century.
