The 2026 World Cup is lower than seven months away, and pleasure continues to construct round what would be the largest version within the match’s historical past. With the countdown underway, Gianni Infantino and FIFA are set to check a brand new anti–time-wasting rule forward of the competitors.
One of the crucial frequent ways for groups defending a lead is for gamers to magnify or faux accidents to sluggish the tempo, break the opponent’s rhythm, and frustrate spectators. Though gamers who obtain medical consideration should exit the sphere and await the referee’s sign to return, the temporary stoppage usually advantages the defending workforce, permitting them to regroup.
Now, a brand new rule will likely be examined wherein any participant who requires medical consideration (besides in two particular situations) should depart the sphere for roughly two minutes earlier than returning, forcing his workforce to play with 10 males. Pierluigi Collina, chairman of FIFA’s Referees Committee, introduced that the rule will debut on the Arab Cup, held December 1-18 in Qatar.
In an interview with Qatar’s Al Kass Sports activities channel, Collina defined the change: “When a participant is injured and the medical workers enters the sphere, he should exit and stay off for a set period of time, which could possibly be two minutes. Throughout that interval, the workforce will play with one fewer participant. This experiment had been thought of for future implementation, however with the upcoming Arab Cup, FIFA president Gianni Infantino determined it needs to be utilized on this match.”
Chairman of the FIFA Referees Committee Pierluigi Collina.
The legendary referee additionally outlined the exceptions designed to forestall unfair punishment. “The one exceptions that may enable a participant to remain on the sphere after medical personnel enter are when the opposing participant concerned within the incident receives a yellow card or is distributed off. Naturally, the goalkeeper may even not be required to depart the sphere for 2 minutes,” Collina added.
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Infantino and the push to ‘optimize’ soccer
Soccer has lengthy been extra reluctant than different main sports activities to implement new guidelines, with VAR being the clearest instance, with some followers nonetheless immune to its use. This newest rule, backed by Infantino for the Arab Cup, is seen as one other daring effort to “optimize” the game and make it extra entertaining.
Following the profitable rollout of the eight-second goalkeeper possession rule earlier this 12 months, Collina commented on the path FIFA is taking: “IFAB and FIFA are contemplating experiments to make soccer extra engaging, thrilling, and pleasant for followers and everybody concerned. I’ve seen that since July 1, when the rule stating {that a} goalkeeper could not maintain the ball for greater than eight seconds was modified to permit a nook kick to be awarded if violated, nobody has been penalized.“
With VAR challenges examined on the 2025 U-20 World Cup and this new rule now debuting within the Arab Cup, Collina is keen to see what comes subsequent. “They understood the rule needed to be revered, and it has introduced nice advantages. From that success comes one other trial that I imagine will likely be revered and useful in combating simulation,” concluded the chairman of FIFA’s Referees Committee.
