We all know that every major competition the authorities try to tweak the rules for the better of football.
I’m not so sure most are ever that.
Hallelujah though.
At the 2026 World Cup we finally have a rule which for me has transformed what we (mainly for me) as fans watch.
Players feigning injury looks to have been stamped out. All it took was the threat of one minute on the sidelines if a physio is required for treatment.
Remarkably, guess what…
Yes, coaches have reacted to this by telling their players:-
We can’t time waste anymore by going down and stopping the flow of the game because that minute you’re off the field can cause us more harm.
For me it just goes to show how much of the game is paused because of non-injuries.
Please please for the good of the game all around the world this is transformative and needs introducing everywhere.
Imagine a Premier League game with no interruptions due to modern day football players needing a “wet sponge” to get them going again.
I get the point that Fabian Schar will still need a physio every game he plays due to the head injuries he sustains, but not many players put their heads for the team in where it matters.