IFAB Approves New Law Requiring Injured Players to Leave Field for One Minute

The International Football Association Board (IFAB) is set to ratify a new law requiring players who receive treatment on the field to leave it for one minute. This measure, which will be approved at a meeting in Wales on Saturday, February 28, aims to address frequent interruptions in match rhythm and reduce time-wasting that affects the flow of play.

Pierluigi Collina, Chairman of FIFA's Referees Committee, explained the rationale behind this direction, stating that "the two-minute rule aims to reduce time-wasting and improve the flow of the game." This refers to previous proposals that faced strong opposition before the duration was reduced to just one minute. The meeting is also expected to agree on a package of additional measures, including a time limit of no more than 10 seconds for players to exit during substitutions and the implementation of a countdown system for throw-ins and goal kicks.

This decision comes as legislative bodies seek to accelerate the pace of matches. The English Premier League previously implemented a similar rule, requiring injured players to remain off the field for 30 seconds since the start of the 2023-2024 season. The process of passing these laws within IFAB requires a majority of six out of eight votes, as the four British associations hold four votes, with the other four votes belonging to FIFA.