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The daft, dangerous and unjust 60-second rule must be dispensed with right away

IFAB have made an attempt to crack down on time wasting, but Graeme McGarry argues there is one 'dangerous' rule that must be scrapped immediately.

Published: Wednesday, 21 October 2026 at 5:00 AM
The daft, dangerous and unjust 60-second rule must be dispensed with right away
Key Things to Know
  • Herald Scotland argues that the 60-second touchline rule for injured players is dangerous and should be scrapped immediately.
  • The rule forces treated players off the pitch for a minute if the foul did not result in a booking.
  • Motherwell defender Jake Girdwood-Reich had to wait on the sideline following concussion protocols during a loss to Kilmarnock.
The Story in 60 Seconds

Herald Scotland argues that football's new directive requiring injured players to wait 60 seconds off the pitch after receiving treatment is unjust and should be scrapped. The writer contends that while the rule aims to deter playacting and timewasting, it penalizes legitimately injured footballers and their teams by temporarily reducing them to 10 players if the offending opponent is not cautioned.

The piece highlights an example from Kilmarnock's match against Motherwell, where Jake Girdwood-Reich was made to wait on the sideline following a head collision. The writer warns the regulation could deter athletes from seeking essential medical care, placing both referees and players in difficult positions while unnecessarily complicating on-field officiating.

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