IFAB might ban substitutions in injury time to prevent time-wasting

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A meeting is scheduled for next month to discuss the changes

The Premier League could be set for some massive rule changes, with injury time substitutes under serious threat.

Research shows the percentage of changes made in the 90th minute and beyond rising – from 21.3% in 2011/12 to 24.3% since 2017/18 – and now the International FA Board (IFAB) are considering adjusting the rules in a bid to prevent time-wasting.

According to the Times, some members of IFAB believe that almost every injury time substitute is a time-wasting tactic, with suggestions any player who is substitute has to leave the field via the nearest touchline, rather than the one where the dugout is situated.

The report states the proposals will be discussed at next month in preparation for IFAB’s annual meeting in March.

“Looking at ways to cut down on time-wasting, speed up the game and increase playing time is one of our priorities,” one member of the IFAB board said.

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“A rule to say there should be no substitutions during added-on time is an interesting one and could work well. Referees add on 30 seconds for a substitution but in practice it can eat up a lot more time than that. There would, however, need to be trials to see if there are any unforeseen ramifications.

“Would it be fair, for example, if a player suffered a broken leg in injury time and couldn’t be replaced? But you already have the case where they couldn’t be replaced anyway if the three substitutes had already been used.”

Two further rule changes also being looked into is allowing goal kicks to be passed to players in their own penalty area to allow quicker play, and for referees not pull play back if a ball is not still for a free kick.

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