Following the approval of the International Football Association Board (IFAB), the UAE Pro League, in coordination with the UAE Football Association (FA), has decided to apply the one-minute off-field medical treatment rule across all professional club competitions for the current season.
The rule forms part of approved procedures aimed at enhancing player medical safety while ensuring match continuity and increasing effective playing time.
Under this regulation, any player who receives medical treatment or undergoes an assessment on the field due to injury, or whose injury causes play to be stopped, must leave the field of play and remain outside for one minute of effective playing time. This allows medical staff to conduct a proper medical evaluation off the pitch and confirm the player’s ability to safely return to the match.
The rule applies when play is stopped due to a suspected injury, when the restart of play is delayed because of an injury, or when the referee asks the player whether on-field treatment is required and the player confirms the need for medical attention. In these cases, the referee permits an initial on-field assessment before the injured player is escorted off the pitch to complete treatment, unless the injury is considered serious.
Players are not required to leave the field if they clearly state that medical treatment is not needed, if they voluntarily leave the pitch to receive treatment, or if the injury results from a foul that leads to a yellow or red card for an opposing player. The rule also does not apply in cases of suspected head injuries, concussions, cardiac emergencies, or any life-threatening medical situations.
Additional exemptions include goalkeepers, penalty kicks when the injured player is the penalty taker, collisions between teammates requiring medical attention, incidents involving a goalkeeper and an opposing player where both require treatment, and cases involving bleeding.
The one-minute period begins once play is restarted and is counted as effective playing time. The fourth official is responsible for monitoring the minute and informing the referee once it has elapsed. The countdown is not paused for any reason, including substitutions or further stoppages.
If the injured player is substituted, the change is made immediately without any delay related to the one-minute rule. If a half ends before the minute is completed, the player is allowed to return at the start of the next half.
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