A player who covers his mouth during an argument with an opponent, a goal kick that seems to have no end or a substitution that also becomes endless. FIFA (International Football Federation) wants to leave all this in the past.
With an eye on the World Cup, which will be played in Canada, Mexico and the United States, the organization wants to improve the behavior of some players on the field.
At the end of February, Ifab (Council of the International Football Association, in translation) met and approved a set of rules that seek to “optimize the pace of matches and reduce the loss of time”, according to the organization itself.
Below, we list some of these new regulations that attempt not only to eliminate some of the tactics for the famous “wax” on the field, but also to put an end to practices that take away the shine of football.
And there are those who believe that these changes could revolutionize the 2026 World Cup.
- Throw-in countdown: If the player responsible for the kick intentionally delays the throw-in, the referee will make a signal indicating that, from that moment on, a five-second countdown will begin. If the charge is not taken within this time, possession of the ball will be given to the opposing team.
- Goal kick countdown: Following the same logic, if the goalkeeper, a player or the team intentionally delays the goal kick, the referee will signal the start of a five-second count. If the move is not performed within the time limit, a corner will be awarded to the opposing team.
The rule also applies to clear attempts to gain time during the game. The idea is, in part, to prevent goalkeepers from holding the ball for too long.
2. REPLACEMENTS IN 10 SECONDS
Time limit for making substitutions: The substituted players will have 10 seconds to leave the field and must leave from the nearest point on the pitch.
The timer starts when the fourth referee raises the substitution board or when the main referee authorizes the change.
“If the player does not leave the field within this time limit, he must leave anyway, but his replacement cannot enter until the game is interrupted for the first time after one minute (of the clock)”, explains Ifab, the body responsible for regulating rules in the sport.
3. MEDICAL CARE AND 1 MINUTE OFF THE FIELD
The player who receives treatment on the field by a physiotherapist or doctor, or who has an injury that causes the match to be stopped, must remain off the field for 60 seconds, counting from the resumption of the game.
After this one-minute period, he will be able to return to the field. Some exceptions apply to this rule.
4. PROHIBITION OF COVERING THE MOUTH DURING ARGUMENTS
Pierluigi Collina, president of the FIFA Referees Commission, praised the initiatives to “make football cleaner”.
He explained that players who cover their mouths with their hands, arms or shirts during an argument with their opponent may be punished with a red card.
The measure was unanimously approved by Ifab in April, with the aim of combating “discriminatory and inappropriate conduct”.
The decision came after the controversial incident between Benfica striker Gianluca Prestianni and Real Madrid’s Brazilian Vini Jr. during a Champions League match in February.
Prestianni received a six-match suspension from UEFA for discriminatory conduct. “If the conversation is friendly, the players can continue without any problems,” said Collina.
“When the conversation is confrontational, covering your mouth means that you are possibly saying something very serious, and the punishment is a red card.”
5. PUNISHMENTS FOR LEAVING THE FIELD IN THE FORM OF PROTEST
In April, Ifab also reported that, “at the discretion of the competition organizer, the referee may punish with a red card any player who leaves the field in protest against an arbitration decision.”
The new rule will also apply to members of the coaching staff who encourage players from their team to leave the pitch. “Initially, the team that causes the match to be suspended will be declared the loser.”
6. MORE USE OF VAR
In the 2026 World Cup, the situations in which the VAR (Video Assistant Referee) can intervene in the match will have new features.
In February, Ifab highlighted that, “if there is clear evidence, from now on the VAR will be allowed to assist the referee” in the following situations:
- Correct the “clearly incorrect” application of a second yellow card: Players sent off for two warnings may have their second yellow card reviewed.
- Clarify punishments applied to the wrong player or team: when the referee imposes punishment on the wrong player for an infraction that results in a yellow or red card.
- Correct incorrectly taken corners: provided that the correction can be made immediately and without delaying the resumption of play.
In May, Ifab stated that VAR will also be able to intervene in corners and free kicks before they are taken.
Previously, VAR protocol did not allow review of an infraction that occurred before a corner, but Pierluigi Collina asked Ifab for this to be changed.
The entity accepted the proposal and determined that any infraction committed before the ball was in play and that had a relevant impact could be reviewed.
Ifab clarified that VAR will be able to act on “clear infractions committed by the attacking team before the ball is in play in a corner or free kick, which have a direct impact on a goal, penalty or disciplinary sanction”.
“If the infraction meets the established criteria, the VAR will recommend an on-field review. If, after the review, the referee confirms that there was an infraction before the ball was in play, the corresponding disciplinary punishment will be applied and the corner or free kick must be retaken.”
The measure will be applied at this World Cup and reevaluated after the end of the championship.
7. END OF ‘MEETINGS’ IN THE TECHNICAL AREA WHEN THE GOALKEEPER IS INJURED
Collina stated that, during the World Cup, players will be prevented from going to the technical area to talk to coaches when goalkeepers are injured.
The so-called “goalkeeper’s technical time” has become a recurring theme in recent years.
It is used by coaches to give new instructions to the team or to try to break the opponent’s rhythm.
In November, Leeds United manager Daniel Farke accused Manchester City goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma of faking an injury to “circumvent the regulations” and break the rhythm of the match.
FIFA wants to leave behind the image of the goalkeeper sitting on the pitch calling for medical assistance while the other players run to the technical area to receive instructions and, as soon as the conversation ends, the goalkeeper simply gets up and returns to the game.
Ifab even studied the topic, but no official change to the rules has been approved so far.
Collina invited leagues to conduct a series of tests during the 2026-27 season to find a solution.
The NWSL (National Women’s Soccer League), a professional women’s soccer league in the United States, introduced its own temporary measure earlier this year.
If a goalkeeper is injured, players from both teams must remain in their positions or gather in the center circle.
FIFA will adopt the same logic as the NWSL and prevent players from going to the side of the field. Collina stated that all federations need to know that this will no longer be allowed. “We had a workshop with all the coaches of the 48 teams and explained that the referees will be proactive.”
“They will not allow teams to go to the benches when a goalkeeper is down and injured,” he added.
“The goalkeeper has the right to be injured, but the players do not have the right to leave the field to take a kind of technical timeout with their respective coaches.”
The effectiveness of the measure at the World Cup is still debated, as there will be a three-minute break for hydration at each game time, which already creates a natural interruption for coaches.
Referees will be responsible for enforcing the rule, but Collina stated that there will be no yellow cards or punishments for players who try to approach to speak to the coach.
“It’s quite strange that only the referee, the physiotherapist and the goalkeeper are on the field,” added Collina. “It’s not good for all the other players to leave the field.”
Collina believes that the new measures will help “keep the pace of the match high and reduce interruptions”.
He hopes that the changes will also prevent matches from having many extra minutes, as occurred at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
What will certainly continue to exist will be hydration breaks, due to the high temperatures.
This text was originally published here.
