Fifa has proposed that players receiving treatment for injuries must remain off the field for at least one minute to curb time-wasting. The measure is among several changes set for approval at the International Football Association Board annual general meeting. Leagues have expressed concerns over potential unintended consequences for genuinely injured players.
Fifa's proposal aims to introduce a fixed one-minute period for injured players to stay off the pitch after treatment, addressing tempo disruption and time lost in matches. Currently, the laws of the game do not specify a duration, allowing leagues to set their own guidelines. The Premier League implemented a 30-second rule starting in the 2023-24 season, while Fifa trialed a two-minute requirement at the Arab Cup in December.
Fifa referees' chief Pierluigi Collina stated that the two-minute trial was intended to reduce time-wasting and improve the game's flow, mirroring a Major League Soccer rule triggered when a player stays on the ground for more than 15 seconds and receives physio attention. At a January Ifab meeting, members agreed on adding a fixed period to the laws but disagreed on the length, with strong opposition to two minutes. The one-minute proposal emerged as a compromise.
Concerns persist among leagues about negative impacts. BBC Sport reports that Manchester United was angered last season when defender Matthijs de Ligt left the field for a cut, allowing Brentford to score from a corner while United played with 10 players. Critics fear a longer absence could increase the likelihood of conceding goals and penalize genuinely injured players, though supporters acknowledge that feigned injuries disrupt play.
Exceptions include situations where an opponent receives a yellow or red card, exempting goalkeepers, and allowing penalty takers to remain on. Ifab is not addressing tactical timeouts, where goalkeepers go down off the ball for coaching instructions, despite discussions.
Additional measures expected for approval include countdown timers for goal-kicks and throw-ins, with possession switching to the opposition if exceeded, extending the successful eight-second rule for goalkeepers holding the ball. A 10-second limit applies to substitutions: if the outgoing player delays, the substitute cannot enter until the next stoppage, at least 60 seconds later. Ifab will also approve video assistant referee reviews for wrongly awarded second yellow cards and, as an opt-in, corners. The Canadian Premier League may trial Arsene Wenger's daylight offside idea.
