Injured Players Must Leave for 1 Minute
If play is stopped for an injury, the injured player must leave the field and stay off for one full minute after play restarts — unless specific exceptions apply.
Injured players could receive treatment and remain on the field or return immediately after a brief assessment.
If play stops for injury, player must leave and stay off for one minute of playing time after restart. Exceptions: goalkeeper, injury caused by opponent foul punished by YC or RC.
What changed
Previously injured players could be treated quickly and stay on. Now if the injury causes a stoppage, the player must leave and cannot return until one minute of playing time has elapsed after the restart. This prevents teams from feigning or exaggerating injuries to waste time or reorganise.
Why it matters for the World Cup
Fake injuries to stop play and waste time have been a persistent issue. This rule makes that tactic costly — your own player has to leave for a minute, potentially leaving you with ten men during a dangerous period.
Scenarios
Player goes down holding their face, play stops
A player clutches their face after minimal contact, play is stopped, and they recover quickly.
Player injured by a reckless foul
A player is injured by a reckless challenge for which the opponent receives a yellow card.