FIFA Cracks Down on โขTime-Wasting with New Rule to boost playing Time
FIFA โis implementing a new rule aimed at increasing actual playingโ time in football matches, addressing concernsโฃ over excessive stoppages and purposeful time-wasting. The change, announced byโ Pierluigi Collina, President of the Referees Commission, will require โplayers receiving medical attention โto remain off the โfield for a mandatory two minutes.
The decision stems from reports by FIFA andโค theโค International โFootball Association Board (IFAB) revealing that,โฃ on average, only 50-55โ minutes of actual play occur within a standardโค 90-minute match.
Collina clarified that the rule is designed to deter players from feigning โinjury. “If aโ player is really injured, โtwo minutes does not represent a โฃdetriment; if he is not, the obligation to leave the field will โact as a deterrent,” he explained.
Here’s how the rule will function: When a player requires medical attention, the referee โwill halt play and allow medical staff onto the field. The injured player must then โexit the field and cannot return forโ at least two minutes. Tho, the referee retainsโ the discretion to allow a player to re-enter the field before theโ two minutes have elapsed if a clear foul or obvious infraction has occurred.
Goalkeepers are the sole exception to โthis rule.
The overarching goal,as stated by Collina,is straightforward: “The objective is simple: to play โmore and waste less time.” FIFA hopes this new measure will leadโ to more engaging matches and a fairer allocationโฃ of playing time.
