Football could soon witness one of its most impactful rule changes in years. Pierluigi Collina, chairman of FIFA’s Referees Committee and one of the most respected figures in world officiating, has confirmed that a pilot test of a new medical-attention rule will take place during the upcoming Arab Cup. If successful, this change could be implemented globally across all major competitions.
The proposed rule is straightforward: any player who requires on-field medical attention will be required to stay off the pitch for a minimum of two minutes. The idea is to address one of football’s long-standing concerns, simulation and time-wasting disguised as injuries.
For years, managers, referees, and fans have expressed frustration over players going down too easily, stopping play, slowing momentum, and sometimes influencing the referee’s decisions. While genuine injuries are an unavoidable part of the sport, the frequency of exaggerated or fake injuries has grown, especially in high-stakes matches where disrupting the game rhythm can offer a tactical advantage.
FIFA believes this new measure could shift the balance. By making players temporarily leave the field after receiving treatment, the incentive to fake an injury decreases drastically. Teams would have to play with one less player for two minutes, which could be costly, discouraging players from going down unless truly necessary.
The Arab Cup will therefore serve as an important testing ground. FIFA will closely monitor how teams adapt, how referees implement the rule, and whether it genuinely impacts the pace and fairness of matches. If successful, this rule could become a landmark step toward making football faster, fairer, and more authentic, reducing one of the sport’s most frustrating behaviours while ensuring player safety remains a priority.
