Fifa proposes mandatory one-minute wait for injured players to curb time-wasting
Players receiving treatment for an injury could be forced to stay off the field for a mandatory one-minute period under new proposals from Fifa.
The measures aimed at tackling tempo disruption are set to be approved at the International Football Association Board (Ifab) annual general meeting on Saturday.
Currently, the laws of the game do not stipulate a specific timeframe for how long an individual must remain on the sidelines.
Domestic competitions have the right to set their own guidelines, with the Premier League adopting a 30-second rule at the start of the 2023-24 campaign.
Compromise on timing
The world governing body previously trialled a strict two-minute exclusion zone during the Arab Cup in December.
Fifa referees’ chief Pierluigi Collina stated that the longer duration was intended to improve game flow and deter tactical cynicism.
This approach mirrored regulations in Major League Soccer, which are triggered if a player remains grounded for more than 15 seconds.
However, following strong pushback against the two-minute model at an Ifab meeting in January, a sixty-second limit has been tabled as a "halfway house".
Fears over unintended consequences
Despite the compromise, BBC Sport understands there are lingering concerns regarding the potential negative impact on competitive balance.
Manchester United were left furious last season when Matthijs de Ligt was forced off for treatment on a head cut, only for Brentford to score from the resulting corner while United were a man down.
Critics fear that a mandated one-minute absence significantly increases the likelihood of a team conceding while temporarily reduced to 10 men.
While there is an acceptance that players feign injury to break up play, officials are wary of unduly penalising those with genuine physical issues.
Exceptions and further changes
To mitigate unfair advantages, several exemptions to the rule have been proposed.
If an opponent receives a yellow or red card for the challenge, the injured player will not be required to leave the pitch.
Goalkeepers are also exempt from the timeout, while a designated penalty taker would be permitted to remain on the field.
Elsewhere, new countdown measures for goal-kicks and throw-ins are expected to be green-lit following the success of the eight-second rule for goalkeepers.
Possession will be awarded to the opposition if the restart takes too long, though no resolution is expected regarding "tactical timeouts" involving goalkeepers going down.