FIFA has put forward a proposal that would require players who receive medical treatment on the pitch to remain off the field for at least one minute once play resumes, in a bid to reduce time‑wasting, cut down tempo disruption and improve the flow of football matches worldwide, multiple news outlets report.

Under current Laws of the Game, there is no compulsory timeframe that an injured player must stay off the field after being treated, with domestic leagues allowed to set their own guidelines. For example the English Premier League has applied a 30‑second off‑field rule since the 2023–24 season to discourage deliberate delays.

The new one‑minute rule is expected to be discussed at the Annual General Meeting of the International Football Association Board (IFAB) — the body responsible for the Laws of the Game — with the aim of formally embedding this minimum period into football’s global rulebook if approved. FIFA’s referees’ chief, Pierluigi Collina, says the initiative is designed to discourage players from exaggerating injuries purely to disrupt match momentum and manipulate stoppage time.

FIFA previously trialled a stricter two‑minute requirement during the 2025 FIFA Arab Cup, aiming to test its impact on tempo and stoppages. However strong resistance from some leagues led to the compromise one‑minute proposal now under consideration.

Football authorities and leagues will be watching how the proposal develops at IFAB’s meeting later this month. If ratified the measure could be applied across domestic competitions continental tournaments and international fixtures, marking a significant shift in how injury stoppages are managed to favour more continuous play and less tactical time‑wasting.