FIFA is set to propose a mandatory one-minute sideline wait for players receiving medical treatment, a move aimed at tackling gamesmanship and improving match tempo. The proposal is expected to be approved at the IFAB annual general meeting this Saturday.
The new rule doubles the current 30-second standard used in the Premier League.
While FIFA referees’ chief Pierluigi Collina argues the measure will reduce tactical “injuries,” the proposal has met resistance from clubs fearing the competitive disadvantage of playing with 10 men for a full minute.
The rule won’t apply if the opponent receives a card, or if the injured player is a goalkeeper or a penalty taker.
Players must exit the pitch within 10 seconds during a sub, or their replacement will be barred from entering for at least one minute.
Tight limits will be enforced on goal-kicks and throw-ins, with possession flipping to the opposition if the limit is exceeded.
The move comes alongside news that the Canadian Premier League may trial Arsene Wenger’s “daylight” offside rule, signaling a broader push to modernize the flow of the game.
