New Football Injury Rule: Why Players Must Leave the Pitch for 60 Seconds (Plus the 10-Second Substitution Rule)
From the 2026/27 season, an injured player who receives treatment on the pitch must leave the field and stay off for one minute after play restarts. And if a substituted player takes longer than 10 seconds to leave, their team has to play a player short for at least a minute. Here's how both new football rules work, who they apply to, and how referees can keep track of them.
What is the new one-minute injury rule in football?
Under Law 5 of the IFAB Laws of the Game 2026/27, an outfield player who is assessed or treated on the field of play, or whose injury causes play to be stopped, must leave the pitch. They then have to stay off for one minute after play restarts.
That minute is running clock. It doesn't pause if the ball goes out of play, a free kick is taken or play stops again. The aim is to stop teams using injuries to waste time or break up the game.
Who does the 60-second injury rule apply to?
It applies to outfield players, with the same exceptions Law 5 has always had for players leaving the field after injury. These include:
an injured goalkeeper
a goalkeeper and an outfield player who collide and both need attention
team-mates who collide and both need attention
a severe injury
a player injured by a physical offence for which the opponent is cautioned or sent off
Check the full wording in the 2026/27 Laws or your national association's guidance before your next match.
When does the minute start, and how does the player come back on?
The minute starts when play restarts, not when the player crosses the touchline. Once it's up, the player can come back straight away, even if the ball is in play. If the ball is in play they re-enter from the touchline; if it's out of play they can re-enter from any boundary line.
What is the new 10-second substitution rule?
Under Law 3, once a substitution is signalled, the player being replaced has 10 seconds to leave the field. The 10 seconds start when the substitution board goes up or, where there's no board, when the referee signals the change.
What happens if a substituted player takes longer than 10 seconds to leave?
The player still has to leave the field, but their team is penalised. The substitute can't come on until the first stoppage after one minute of play has passed since the restart. Until then, the team plays with one fewer player.
There's an exception where leaving within 10 seconds isn't possible for safety, security or injury reasons. A player who deliberately delays the restart can still be cautioned on top of the time penalty.
When did the new rules come into force?
The IFAB approved both changes at its 140th Annual General Meeting as part of a package to reduce time-wasting and protect effective playing time. They came into force on 1 July 2026 and were used at the FIFA World Cup 2026.
Common mistakes referees make with the new time limits
Pausing the minute. It's running clock, so don't time it on your match stopwatch.
Starting at the wrong moment. The minute begins at the restart, not when play stops or when the player leaves the pitch.
Mixing up the two endings. A delayed substitute waits for the next stoppage after the minute. An injured player can come back as soon as the minute is up, even with the ball in play.
Tracking several at once. You might have an injured player and a delayed substitute waiting at the same time, while still watching the game.
No fourth official. At grassroots level, there's usually no one on the touchline to tell you when time's up.
How referees can time the one-minute rules
The REFSIX One Minute Timer puts both one-minute waits on your wrist. At the restart, long-press the watch face, tap One Minute Timer and choose Sub or Injury. The countdown sits next to your match clock on your main timer face.
At zero, your watch tells you what happens next: for a sub, they come on at the next stoppage; for an injury, the player can rejoin straight away. You can run as many timers as you need, and the watch face always shows the next one to finish. Every timer is saved to your match with its type and start time.
You still judge the 10 seconds for a substitution yourself; the One Minute Timer takes over from the restart. It's free for all REFSIX users in version 6.28.0.
Get the One Minute Timer
New injury and substitution rules: FAQs
Does the one-minute injury rule apply to goalkeepers?
No. An injured goalkeeper is one of the exceptions in Law 5, so they don't have to leave the pitch for one minute.
Does the one minute stop when the ball goes out of play?
No. It's one minute of running clock from the restart, so it keeps counting through stoppages.
When can an injured player come back on?
As soon as the minute is up, even if the ball is in play. They re-enter from the touchline if the ball is in play, or from any boundary line if it's out of play.
What happens if a substituted player takes more than 10 seconds to leave?
They still have to leave, but the substitute can't come on until the first stoppage after one minute of play has passed since the restart. The team plays with one fewer player until then.
When does the 10 seconds start for a substitution?
When the substitution board is held up or, if there's no board, when the referee signals the substitution.