Fifa’s new rule: injured players must stay off for two minutes | OneFootball

Fifa is preparing a significant change in the regulations, aimed at reducing game interruptions and increasing the actual playing time of matches.

Fifa, Collina introduces an anti-time-wasting measure: those who request medical assistance will stay off for two minutes

Pierluigi Collina, chairman of the Referees' Committee of the highest international football body, announced the introduction of a new rule: players who request medical staff intervention will be required to stay off the field for two minutes.

How the new rule will work

According to Collina, the provision will be applied “in all cases, unless the opponent of the injured player receives a yellow card or a red card.” The two-minute exclusion will not apply to goalkeepers, given the specificity of the role and the potentially excessive impact that a temporary exit would have on the balance of the game.

The goal is clear: to discourage tactical injuries and those situations where a player collapses to the ground to break the rhythm or favor result management. The team affected by the injury will find itself temporarily outnumbered, thus making players responsible for seeking treatment only when truly necessary.

Where it will be tested

The rule will be tested for the first time at the Arab Cup 2025, scheduled in Qatar from December 1 to 18. This international tournament represents the ideal testing ground to evaluate the concrete impact of the novelty on tactical dynamics, recovery times, and game fluidity.

If the experiment yields positive results, Fifa could extend the measure to higher-level competitions, potentially including – a possibility not excluded – the World Cup next summer.

A possible revolution for modern football

The proposal is part of the path initiated by Fifa in recent years to limit all forms of time-wasting. After increasing stoppage times in international competitions, this rule aims for further advancement towards a more continuous, rhythmic football consistent with the needs of modern sports entertainment.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇮🇹 here.