Seasons2018-19Rumour Mill
Subs in injury time may be banned
Football's governing bodies could move to outlaw the substitution of players during time added on for stoppages.
The International FA Board (Ifab) has found that substitutions are occurring after the regulation 90 minutes are up in one in four Premier League matches, with the belief that it is a almost entirely a time-wasting tactic.
Other measures aimed at increasing the amount of actual playing time include mandating that players who are being taken off would have to leave the field via the closest touchline rather than walk across the pitch, permitting goal kicks to be passed to players within the penalty area, and allowing free kicks to be taken while the ball is still moving.
The issue will be discussed further at Ifab's advisory panels next month, with the organisation's annual meeting to follow in March next year.
“Looking at ways to cut down on time-wasting, speed up the game and increase playing time is one of our priorities,” one board member is quoted as saying in The Times.