World football’s law-makers are weighing a proposal that could significantly change how injuries are handled during matches, as part of broader efforts to clamp down on time-wasting and maintain the tempo of the game.

According to BBC Sport, FIFA has proposed a new rule that would require players who receive medical treatment on the pitch to remain off the field for at least one minute before returning to action. The measure is expected to be discussed at the annual general meeting of the International Football Association Board (IFAB), the body responsible for determining and updating the Laws of the Game. If approved, the rule would be written into football’s global rulebook.

Currently, the Laws of the Game do not mandate a fixed period that an injured player must stay off the pitch after treatment. Domestic leagues have been free to introduce their own guidelines.

In England, for example, the Premier League implemented a 30-second off-field rule at the start of the 2023–24 season. FIFA previously experimented with a stricter two-minute requirement during the Arab Cup in December, but the idea met strong resistance amid concerns that such a lengthy absence could unfairly disadvantage teams.

FIFA’s referees’ chief, Pierluigi Collina, has said earlier trials were designed to discourage players from exaggerating injuries to disrupt match rhythm. Critics of time-wasting tactics have long argued that brief stoppages for minor knocks can be used strategically to break an opponent’s momentum.

A comparable system is already in operation in Major League Soccer, where players who remain on the ground for more than 15 seconds and require medical attention must temporarily leave the pitch.

IFAB members agreed in January that a fixed time period should be incorporated into the laws, though discussions continued over what duration would strike the right balance between fairness and match flow. The proposed one-minute requirement is widely viewed as a compromise — firm enough to deter gamesmanship, yet short enough to avoid unduly penalising teams dealing with genuine injuries.

If adopted, the change would mark another step in football’s ongoing efforts to modernise its rules and ensure a faster, more fluid spectacle for players and fans alike.