World Cup time-limited substitutions rule: Players could face punishment for strict policy

A new substitutions rule will be in operation during this summer’s World Cup.

The 23rd edition of the tournament is taking place in Canada, Mexico and the USA and ahead of the finals, FIFA has introduced several law changes for referees to use.

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Amongst those is an alteration to substitutions in a bid to clamp down on time-wasting.

What is the new substitutions rule?

At this summer’s World Cup, players will have to contend with time-limited substitutions.

The new rule has been introduced to speed up sub breaks during matches.

Players will have ten seconds to leave the pitch at the nearest point when they are taken off.

If they take longer than ten seconds, the player coming on cannot enter the field for at least one minute.

This will leave the offending team down to ten men for a limited period.

The substitute is only allowed to come on once play has stopped again, meaning it could take longer than a minute.

There are two exemptions which will see the rule not apply at a substitution.

If a player is injured, they do not need to leave the pitch at the nearest point within ten seconds. This is also the case if there are security concerns relating to where they can leave the pitch.

Teams will once again be permitted to make five substitutions per 90 minutes.

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An additional change will be added during extra-time in the knockout stages. This was also the case at the previous World Cup in Qatar four years ago.

Has the rule been used before?

The new substitutions rule has been in operation during pre-tournament friendly matches.

It was most notably implemented in the recent clash between Japan and Iceland.

Kristian Hlynsson of Iceland took longer than ten seconds to leave the pitch when he was replaced in the 85th minute.

As a result, Isak Snaer Thorvaldsson was prevented from coming on, leaving his side down to 10 men.

During the period in which Iceland were being penalised, Japan scored the only goal of the match as they clinched a 1-0 win.

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