FIFA Injury Rule Could Force Players Off Pitch For One Minute As IFAB Considers Major Law Changes

Players who go down injured and require treatment may soon be made to wait a full minute before returning to the pitch, under proposals set to be discussed and potentially approved this weekend.

The measure, driven by FIFA, is one of several changes aimed at protecting the rhythm of matches and reducing time lost to stoppages.

The proposals will be presented to lawmakers at the annual general meeting of the International Football Association Board (IFAB), the governing body responsible for the Laws of the Game.

At present, the rulebook does not fix a minimum period that an injured player must remain off the field after treatment. Domestic leagues have been left to interpret the issue themselves. In England, the Premier League introduced a 30-second waiting period at the start of the 2023-2024 campaign.

FIFA, however, believes stronger action is needed.

During trials at the Arab Cup in December, players who received treatment were required to stay off for two minutes. According to FIFA referee’s chief Pierluigi Collina, the aim of the two-minute rule was simple: reduce time-wasting and restore a better flow to matches.

The concept mirrors a policy already used in Major League Soccer, where a player who remains on the ground for more than 15 seconds and requires medical attention must temporarily leave the pitch.

Yet the idea of a fixed two-minute absence has not gone down smoothly. At a meeting in January, IFAB members agreed that a clear time limit should be written into the laws, but there was sharp disagreement over how long that period should be. Two minutes was widely viewed as excessive.

A compromise of one minute has now been tabled, though reservations remain.

Clubs fear the unintended consequences could outweigh the benefits. Last season, Manchester United were left furious when Matthijs de Ligt was forced off with a cut, only for Brentford to score from a corner while he was still sidelined.

Critics argue that extending the mandatory absence to 60 seconds would increase the likelihood of teams conceding while temporarily reduced to 10 men.

Even the current 30-second rule has drawn groans from supporters. Referees, too, could find themselves under heightened scrutiny if goals follow enforced absences.

There is broad acceptance within the game that some players exaggerate injuries to disrupt momentum. At the same time, many within the sport worry that a longer enforced spell off the pitch risks punishing those who are genuinely hurt.

The proposal does include carve-outs. If the opposing player receives a yellow or red card, the injured footballer may remain on the field. Goalkeepers are exempt altogether, and a designated penalty taker would also be allowed to stay on.

One issue that will not be resolved this weekend is the so-called tactical timeout, when a goalkeeper goes down off the ball to allow a coach to relay instructions. IFAB’s advisory panels have debated the matter at length, but no consensus has been reached.

Elsewhere, further time-management measures are expected to gain approval. Following the positive reception of the eight-second restriction on goalkeepers holding the ball, countdown-style limits are set to be introduced for goal-kicks and throw-ins. Should a team exceed the allotted time, possession would be handed to the opposition.

Substitutions could also be tightened. A departing player would have 10 seconds to leave the field. Failure to do so would prevent the replacement from entering, forcing the team to continue with 10 players until the next stoppage, provided at least 60 seconds have passed.

In addition, IFAB is poised to allow video assistant referees to review wrongly awarded second yellow cards. Competitions may also be given the option to use VAR for corner decisions.

Meanwhile, the Canadian Premier League is expected to receive permission to begin trials of Arsene Wenger’s proposed daylight offside law, another sign that football’s lawmakers are willing to test bold ideas in pursuit of a faster, fairer game.