FOOTBALL matches could be reduced to a bloodbath if new FIFA proposals become reality.

The game's governing body is determined to clamp down on cheats, and are considering a suggestion that any player requiring treatment for an injury should have to leave the pitch for a minimum of two minutes.

The proposal was put forward by former Polish international Zbigniew Boniek, a member of FIFA's governing body, who wants to see players feigning injury pay the maximum penalty.

President Sepp Blatter said: "If a player is injured - or not injured and asking for help -he has to wait at least two minutes before he can re-enter the field.

"Most of the time, these injuries are not really injuries, and as soon as they get to the touchline - the magic line I call it - they are well again."

Let's pray the grey suits at FIFA headquarters quickly kick this idea into touch.

Picture this: A team is 1-0 down in a cup tie with two minutes left. The manager sends out instructions for his men to injure three opposition players.

They are all put on the deck - and then each sent to the touchline for their mandatory two-minutes.

Suddenly it's 11 against eight. Imagine the uproar from the opposition manager. They might as well fit a stretcher in the dugout.

Honest players would effectively be punished, even though they are the victims.

The only option a player has to avoid the 'sin bin' when injured is to get up and carry on -and face aggravating the injury.

Talk about stamping out the cheats, this system is an open invitation to cheats. Gain a numerical advantage by crippling the opposition - that's going to lead to a scene from Casualty every week.

The current law, where players who are injured have to walk off the pitch before they can continue playing, is crazy enough.

If FIFA let this through, football's thugs on the playing field will be rubbing their hands with joy.