Checkmate: Fake injuries to delay play in PSL on spotlight … FIFA wants injured players to stay off for one minute

THE proposal to have football players who receive treatment for an injury to stay off the field for one minute could be the perfect solution for local PSL teams which employ delaying tactics through fake injuries.

It is one of a number of measures to tackle tempo disruption and time lost which are set to be approved at the International Football Association Board (Ifab) annual general meeting on Saturday.

At present there is no stipulation in the laws over how long injured players have to remain on the sidelines.

If the rule comes to use, it could be a huge solution for teams in the Zimbabwe Premiership.

The local Premiership if on many occasions come under scrutiny over time wasting when teams see they have no chance in the match or when they are leading.

This, in many cases, have dragged the sponsors into the mud when some cases result in violence from the fans or negative publicity.

In the face of the landmark rule, it must, however, be understood that leagues have the right to set their own guidelines, with the English Premier League adopting a 30-second rule since the 2023-24 season.

FIFA held its own trials at the Arab Cup in December, which required a player to stay off the field for two minutes.

FIFA referees’ chief Pierluigi Collina says the two-minute rule is intended to reduce time-wasting and improve the flow of the game.

It mirrors an approach taken by Major League Soccer, which is triggered if a player remains on the ground for more than 15 seconds and the physio comes on.

At an Ifab meeting in January it was agreed a fixed period should be added to the laws, but there was disagreement over the length of time and strong pushback against two minutes.

One minute has been proposed as a halfway house, but BBC Sport understands concerns remain about negative impacts.

Manchester United were angered last season when Matthijs de Ligt was forced to leave the field with a cut, and Brentford scored from a corner while he was off the pitch.

The fear is a one-minute absence would make it far more likely a team could concede a goal when down to 10 players.

Thirty seconds already causes frustration among supporters – and unintended consequences of goals conceded could add further pressure on to officials.

There is an acceptance players use supposed injuries as a way of breaking up play, but it is felt extending the time limit could unduly penalise genuinely injured players.

There are a few exceptions.

If the opponent is shown a yellow or red card the injured player does not need to stay off. Goalkeepers are also exempt, while a penalty taker would be able to stay on.

However, Ifab is not expected to pass any resolution to tackle the tactical timeout. This is when a goalkeeper goes down off the ball in order for a coach to get new instructions to the team.

Ifab’s advisory panels have discussed the issue at some length but, so far, there has been no agreement on a solution.

Following the success of the eight-second rule for goalkeepers holding the ball, new countdown measures are set to be approved.

A similar process will be added to goal-kicks and throw-ins, with possession changing to the opposition if it takes too long.

A 10-second limit will also be applied to substituted players – if they do not get off the pitch the replacement will not be allowed to come on.

A team would have to play with 10 players until the next stoppage and that must be after at least 60 seconds.

Ifab is expected to approve video assistant referee reviews for wrongly awarded second yellow cards and, as a competition opt-in, corners.

The Canadian Premier League is also likely to be granted permission to start trials of Arsene Wenger’s daylight off-side.

• Zimpapers Sports Hub/ BBC Sport