FIFA is proposing a rule that would require injured players who receive on-field treatment to remain off the pitch for at least one minute before rejoining play.
The measure is part of a broader effort by FIFA to preserve match tempo and limit time lost to stoppages. The proposal will be submitted for discussion at the annual general meeting of the International Football Association Board (IFAB), which oversees the Laws of the Game.
Currently, football regulations do not specify a mandatory minimum time an injured player must stay off the field after treatment, leaving domestic leagues to set their own guidelines. In England, for instance, the Premier League introduced a 30-second waiting period at the start of the 2023–24 season.
FIFA believes stricter measures are necessary. During trials at the 2023 Arab Cup in December, the governing body tested a two-minute rule requiring treated players to remain sidelined for that duration.
FIFA’s referees chief, Pierluigi Collina, said the longer period was designed to curb time-wasting and improve the flow of matches. However, at an IFAB meeting in January, while members agreed in principle to introduce a fixed timeframe into the laws, there was disagreement over how long it should be, with significant resistance to the proposed two-minute limit.
