Federation of International Football Association (FIFA) is pushing for a new rule that would require injured players to stay off the pitch for one minute after receiving medical treatment, in a move aimed at cutting time-wasting and keeping matches flowing.
The proposal will be tabled at the upcoming annual meeting of the International Football Association Board (IFAB), the body responsible for football’s Laws of the Game. If approved, the rule would apply worldwide.
At the moment, the laws do not set a compulsory time for players to remain off the field after treatment, leaving competitions to decide their own procedures.
FIFA has already tested stricter measures. During the Arab Cup in December, injured players were required to stay off for two minutes. According to FIFA referees’ chief Pierluigi Collina, the trial was designed to discourage players from going down easily and to reduce interruptions that slow the pace of matches.
However, the two-minute period faced resistance from some stakeholders. In January, IFAB members agreed that a fixed time should be introduced but opted for a shorter one-minute compromise.
The proposed rule is similar to existing practices in Major League Soccer, where players who stay down for more than 15 seconds and need treatment must leave the field.
If adopted, the change is expected to speed up games, minimise stoppages and deter players from using injury breaks to waste time.
