Arne Slot has become the latest Premier League manager to voice frustration at referees over inconsistent timekeeping.
According to former PGMOL chief and ex-FIFA referee Keith Hackett, football authorities should consider appointing a dedicated timekeeper to manage stoppage time at the end of each half. Speaking to Football Insider, Hackett reiterated his long-standing call for this rule change ahead of the 2026–27 season—a topic reignited by the Liverpool manager’s recent criticism of referee Chris Kavanagh.
Kavanagh officiated Crystal Palace’s dramatic late victory over Liverpool at Selhurst Park, prompting Slot to compare Premier League refereeing to that of the Champions League. He humorously suggested that the referee from Liverpool’s game against Galatasaray would not have allowed Palace’s winning goal, as that match ended precisely after eight minutes of stoppage time.
Despite the light-hearted tone of Slot’s remarks, Hackett expressed support for the manager, acknowledging the growing frustration among coaches over the inconsistent handling of added time in Premier League matches.
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