Time added on for fans’ mental health

Former Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur star Dimitar Berbatov has teamed up with LiveScore to encourage fans to take ‘Extra Added Time’ for their mental health.

The Bulgarian legend has been signed up as the Extra Added Time ambassador for a new campaign to help raise awareness and funds in football’s most stressful moments.

As part of the initiative, LiveScore will donate £250 to charity for every key Premier League moment, delivered via its app post-90 minutes throughout November.

Last season, there was a 38 per cent increase in Premier League match time thanks to time added by officials, which pushed the average match duration to 101 minutes and 42 seconds.

The extension of added time in the England’s top flight, which is mirrored in major leagues across the world, has led to a significant surge in goals scored after the 90th minute - rising by more than 110 per cent from 49 goals in the 2022/23 season to 103 last season.

Bulgaria’s record goalscorer Berbatov, now 43, played more than 200 games for Spurs, Manchester United and Fulham, as well as enjoying spells with Bayer Leverkusen, Monaco and PAOK Athens, before his retirement six years ago.

Twice a Premier League champion at Old Trafford, he also scored the equalising penalty for Tottenham as they went on to win the 2008 League Cup in extra-time, so knows all about the stresses of late goals, and it’s impact on supporters.

Berbatov said: “Football has a special power to bring joy to the world, and nothing brings people together like last minute goals.

“That’s why I’m delighted to join LiveScore for Extra Added Time, where the donation for every moment in added time will make a big difference, and hopefully, together, we will encourage people to spend more time on their mental health.”

The campaign will see £10,000 donated to a leading mental health charity while, Bloomsbury Football, an organisation which harnesses the power of football to transform the lives of young people across London, will also receive £3,000 to support its mental health coaching programme.

Fans can track the progress of the campaign directly through the LiveScore app, ensuring they can engage with the cause while keeping up with the game’s critical moments.

LiveScore was founded in 1998, and how has more than 45 million monthly users across over 200 countries, encountering its match-day coverage.

LiveScore chief executive Sam Sadi said: “For more than 25 years, LiveScore has delivered every moment to fans. 

“We are delighted to see this campaign translate these moments into an important donation to charity, as we look to use the power of the sport to support the mental wellbeing of the whole football community.”

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