Josiah
Japan became one of the first teams to benefit from football’s newly introduced time-limited substitution rule after their international friendly against Iceland on Sunday.
The rule, introduced by the International Football Association Board ahead of the upcoming FIFA World Cup, requires substituted players to leave the field within 10 seconds using the nearest exit point. Failure to do so prevents the incoming player from entering the pitch until the next stoppage in play, temporarily leaving the team with fewer players.
The regulation proved decisive late in the match when Iceland winger Ísak Þorvaldsson was unable to enter the field immediately following a delayed substitution. Reduced to 10 men, Iceland were punished moments later as Kōki Ogawa headed home in the 87th minute to secure a 1-0 victory for Japan. The winning goal came just one minute and 54 seconds after the substitution delay.
Following the match, Japan head coach Hajime Moriyasu stressed the importance of adapting quickly to the new regulations and ensuring players remain aware of their implications.
“I thought the players handled the new rule adjustments today with almost no issues,” Moriyasu said. “Under the new rules, players won’t necessarily be able to get back on the pitch as quickly as before. That’s something we need to be mindful of.”
He cautioned that teams must avoid creating unnecessary numerical disadvantages during substitutions, as opponents can exploit those moments to gain an advantage.
Moriyasu also pointed to the significance of the newly introduced three-minute hydration breaks, which now provide coaches with a brief opportunity to relay tactical instructions to players.
“In those three minutes, we have to organise the key points we need to get across and communicate them clearly,” he explained. “How well we use those three minutes could have a major impact on matches, so we want to prepare thoroughly.”
Japan will begin their World Cup campaign against Netherlands on June 14 before taking on Tunisia and Sweden in their remaining group matches.
The upcoming tournament will feature several additional rule changes designed to improve the flow of matches and reduce time-wasting. Among them is a five-second limit for throw-ins and goal kicks, with delays potentially resulting in possession or corner kicks being awarded to the opposing team.
Players who receive treatment off the field will also be required to remain off the pitch for 60 seconds unless specific exceptions apply, such as injuries involving goalkeepers or incidents requiring disciplinary action.
In addition, referees will be instructed to sanction players who cover their mouths during confrontations, while the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) system will have expanded powers to review certain corner-kick decisions and assess second-yellow-card incidents when determining potential red-card offences.
