FIFA is about to implement a controversial rule, and MU has previously been affected by it.

According to FIFA's proposals, players needing medical care due to injuries could be required to exit the pitch for one minute.

This is one of several measures aimed at addressing time-wasting during matches, expected to be approved at the International Football Association Board (IFAB) annual meeting on February 28.

Currently, the Laws of the Game do not specify how long an injured player must remain off the sidelines. Competitions can set their own guidelines, and the Premier League has enforced a 30-second rule since the 2023/24 season.

FIFA previously conducted trials during the Arab Cup last December, where injured players had to leave the field for two minutes. FIFA's head of refereeing, Pierluigi Collina, stated the two-minute rule aims to reduce time-wasting and improve match flow.

This approach is similar to MLS (the American professional league): if a player remains on the ground for more than 15 seconds and medical staff enter the field, the procedure is triggered.

At the IFAB meeting in January, parties agreed on adding a fixed time frame into the laws, but disagreed on the duration and faced strong opposition to the two-minute proposal.

The one-minute option was proposed as a “compromise solution,” but according to BBC Sport, concerns about negative effects remain.

Last season, Manchester United were frustrated when Matthijs de Ligt had to leave the field due to a skin tear, and Brentford scored from a corner while he was off the pitch.

The worry is that being absent for one minute significantly increases the risk of conceding a goal while playing with 10 men.

The existing 30-second rule has already annoyed fans, and if it leads to goals conceded, pressure on referees could intensify.

Although it is acknowledged that players sometimes fake injuries to disrupt the game’s rhythm, many argue that extending off-field time could unfairly penalize genuinely injured players.

However, there will be some exceptions:

• If the opposing team receives a yellow or red card, the injured player does not need to remain off the pitch for the full duration.
• Goalkeepers are exempt.
• Players taking penalty kicks may also be allowed to stay on the field.

However, IFAB is reportedly not ready to approve any resolution to handle “tactical timeouts” — situations where goalkeepers stay down away from the ball to give coaches time to relay instructions.

IFAB advisory boards have discussed this issue extensively but have yet to reach consensus on a solution.

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

A similar procedure will apply to goal kicks and throw-ins: if these take too long, possession will switch to the opponent. Additionally, substituted players will face a 10-second limit to leave the field; if they fail, the replacement player cannot enter.

The team will then play with 10 men until the next dead-ball situation, which must occur after at least 60 seconds.

IFAB is also expected to allow VAR intervention to review incorrect second yellow card decisions and, depending on the participating competitions, even corner kick situations.