FIFA has suggested a new regulation requiring players receiving on-field medical attention to stay off the pitch for at least one minute, aiming to curb time-wasting and enhance match flow.
BBC Sport reported on Monday that the proposal will be reviewed at the annual meeting of the International Football Association Board, the body responsible for the Laws of the Game. If accepted, it will be added to football’s official rulebook.
Currently, the Laws of the Game do not mandate a set period for players to remain off the field after treatment, leaving domestic leagues to establish their own rules.
“The Premier League, for instance, introduced a 30-second off-field rule at the start of the 2023–24 season.
“FIFA previously trialled a stricter two-minute rule during the Arab Cup in December. However, the proposal faced strong resistance, with concerns that a two-minute absence could unduly disadvantage teams,” BBC reported.
FIFA’s referees’ chief, Pierluigi Collina, explained that the trial aimed to discourage players from exaggerating injuries and disrupting match tempo.
A comparable system already exists in Major League Soccer, where players must temporarily leave the field if they stay down for more than 15 seconds while medical staff attend to them.
IFAB members agreed in January that a fixed off-field period should be added to the laws, though the exact duration remained under discussion.
The proposed one-minute rule is considered a compromise between ensuring fairness and maintaining the game’s pace.
