The International Football Association Board (IFAB), the body responsible for the Laws of the Game, approved at its annual general meeting a set of changes relevant to football, including the expansion of the video referee protocol (VAR) and various measures aimed at reduce time losses and increase the pace of matches. The changes officially come into force on July 1st, but may be applied to competitions that start before and end after that date, which is why they will already be in operation at the 2026 World Cup, as confirmed by FIFA. The meeting took place in Hensol, Wales, in the year in which the Welsh FA celebrates its 150th anniversary.
The main novelty concerns the VAR, which is now able to intervene in more situations whenever there is clear evidence of an error. From next season onwards, the video referee will be able to recommend the review of expulsions resulting from a clearly incorrect second yellow card, correct cases of mistaken identity when the referee sanctions the wrong player and, if the competition allows, review the incorrect award of a corner kick, as long as the analysis is immediate and does not delay the restart of the game. The use of VAR for corners will not be mandatory and will depend on the competition, but FIFA has already announced that it will apply this possibility in the World Cup.
The IFAB has also approved several measures to combat anti-gambling. Referees can now start a visual countdown on throw-ins and goal kicks when they consider that there is a deliberate delay. If the ball is not in play at the end of this count, the shot will be awarded to the opponent and, in the case of a goal kick, a corner will be awarded against the offending team.. The logic follows the existing model for goalkeepers, who have eight seconds to put the ball back into play after controlling it with their hands.
Substitutions will also have new rules. The substituted player will have ten seconds to leave the field of play after the referee’s indication or the display of the scoreboard. If you do not do so within this period, you will still have to leave, but the substitute will only be able to enter at the next stop after one minute of play.. In parallel, when a player receives medical assistance on the field and the match is interrupted due to injury, he will have to leave and remain out for one minute after the restart, except for the exceptions already provided for in the Laws of the Game.
The body also decided study the introduction of disciplinary sanctions for players who cover their mouths when speaking to opponents or teammatesan increasingly common practice due to the constant presence of cameras and the possibility of lip reading, in an attempt to reinforce transparency and prevent inappropriate behavior on the field.
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