[choirboy]

"2. Substituted players can leave the pitch at the closest point."
Hopefully stopping the 90 minute subs of a player taking an age to walk to the dugout once substituted, any substituted player can now leave the pitch at the nearest point.

Stanley Josh....
I think the rule is that a player who is subbed HAS to leave the pitch by the nearest touchline.
If it was ...."He CAN leave the pitch by the nearest touchline then he would still choose the 'Longest Walk' if his team were winning!