Leaving and entering are separate events
The current Law 3 gives the outgoing player ten seconds from the indicated substitution to leave, with specified exceptions. If the limit is exceeded, the incoming substitute normally waits until the first stoppage after one minute of play following the restart. The change cannot simply be cancelled.
Consider an ordinary outfield substitution, with no safety or injury exception. The departing player eventually reaches the line, but the replacement stays beside the official as play resumes. That picture can look like indecision. It may instead show the consequence of the timed-exit procedure.
Use the restart as the minute’s reference
The one-minute period is measured after play restarts, so the incoming player’s wait is not reliably calculated from the first shot of them at the touchline. There must also be an appropriate stoppage and permission to enter. The television clock alone may therefore not predict the exact entry moment.
In a viewing note, mark the substitution indication, the late exit and the restart separately. This sequence explains why the team can temporarily have one fewer player despite the coach already selecting a replacement. Goalkeeper substitutions have a specific requirement to preserve a goalkeeper and should not be inferred from this ordinary outfield example. The practical clue is the official’s management of entry, not the substitute’s apparent readiness.
Questions answered
Can the coach cancel the late substitution to avoid the wait?
The stated procedure does not allow cancellation or a different substitute.
Is entry automatic exactly one minute after the board appears?
No. The relevant minute follows the restart, with entry at the subsequent permitted stoppage.
Sources & further reading
Official references for the subjects discussed. Service terms and device software can change.