Former Rovers star Chris Sutton has shared his thoughts on the new stoppage time rules in English football.

Officials are now looking to add on the exact amount of time lost for events such as goals, celebrations, substitutions, injuries, penalties and red cards.

They are also clamping down on time wasting by “taking a more robust approach” to actions such as delaying the restart of play and failing to respect the required distance at free-kicks.

The new rules mirror what was used at the World Cup in Qatar last year, when there was a significant increase in the amount of time added on at the end of halves.

Sutton, who scored 62 goals in 162 appearances for Rovers, reckons the new rules will divide opinion over the coming season.

"It’s going to be chaotic and controversial,” he wrote in The Daily Mail. "It will be criticised by managers when it works against them and celebrated when it works for them."

Manchester United defender Raphael Varane recently criticised the new rules, warning that the schedule is becoming “overcrowded”.

Varane says players are not being heard by the authorities and believes the changes are “damaging our game”.

Sutton admits he has sympathy for the United defender, who has had several injury setbacks since his arrival at Old Trafford.

"He has had his injury issues and with matches getting longer, the United defender’s risk of breaking down will increase,” the ex-Rovers man continued.

“Varane is just the first footballer to voice his annoyance but plenty of others will have the same perspective.

“I know that would be a concern of mine if I was still playing. It feels as if football has gone from one extreme to the other.”

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