FIFA has put forward a proposal that would require players who receive medical attention on the field of play to remain off the pitch for at least one minute, in a bid to reduce time-wasting and improve match tempo.
The recommendation is expected to be tabled at the annual general meeting of the International Football Association Board, the body charged with determining and amending the Laws of the Game. If endorsed, the rule would be incorporated into football’s global regulatory framework.
Currently, the Laws of the Game do not prescribe a fixed period that injured players must stay off the field after treatment, leaving domestic leagues to set their own standards.
In England, for example, the Premier League introduced a 30-second off-field requirement at the start of the 2023–24 season. FIFA also experimented with a stricter two-minute rule during the Arab Cup in December, but the idea met resistance amid concerns that such a lengthy absence could unfairly disadvantage teams.
FIFA’s head of refereeing, Pierluigi Collina, previously explained that the trials were designed to discourage players from exaggerating injuries and deliberately slowing the pace of matches.
A comparable approach is already operational in Major League Soccer, where players who remain on the ground for more than 15 seconds and require medical intervention must temporarily leave the field.
Members of IFAB agreed in January on the need to formalise a fixed time requirement within the Laws of the Game, though deliberations continued over the appropriate duration. The proposed one-minute absence is viewed as a middle ground aimed at balancing fairness with the objective of preserving the rhythm and integrity of matches.
