The head of the FIFA Pierluigi Colina stated adjustments made by the International Football Law Council (IFAB) through focusing on four main goals: anti-prejudicial, limited waste of time, improving the player's relationship with the referee and optimizing the use of VAR technology.
The head of the FIFA referee, former Italian referee Pierluigi Colilla stated at the 74th FIFA Conference in Bangkok, Thailand on January 17, 2024 Image: Reuters
The key change is in the situation where the ball goes up and throws the border. In accordance with the new rule, when the player deliberately delays the throwing of the border, the ref will signal or blow the whistle start the countdown. The team then made only five seconds to bring the ball back to the game. If it's too much time, the right to throw will be given to the opponent.
The same law is also applied with pitching. After the referee's permission to perform, the team is controlling the ball for only five seconds to get the ball in. If we don't finish on time, the opposing team will be fined.
FIFA considers this to be the next step following the rule limiting the time that the goalkeeper's ball time was previously applied. According to Collina, the new law greatly reduces behavior that extends time and restricts unnecessary breaks in the game.
Another change may be controversial in the form of verbal protection behavior in controversy. Over the years, not many players have had the habit of using arms, arms, or shirts to cover their mouths in exchange with teammates or opponents to avoid being recorded by cameras. FIFA thinks this action is particularly inappropriate in stressful confrontational situations.
Preliminary Benfica Galuca Prestiti is given racist lyrics targeting Real Vinicius in the playoff-off Champions League on Da Luz Field, Lisbon, Portugal on 1717/2026. Image: AFP
According to the new law, the referee has the right to draw the red card against the player covering his mouth during an argument with the opponent. The decision will depend on the rating of the referee on the field. FIFA emphasizes this is the player's deliberate choice, thus needing control to ensure transparency and athletic spirit.
Excessive reactions to the referee's decision will also be dealt with more severely. If a player leaves the field on his own to protest the decision to run the game, the referee may disbarret the game. The rule also applies to coach members if they provoke players to drop out.
Preliminary Koki Ogawa table opened the score for Japan in the Icelandic mating match on National Stadium in Tokyo May 31, 2026. Image: Reuters
The match between Japan and Iceland on May 31, saw the situation. Iceland had to play with 10 people for more than a minute as the player was replaced to leave the field too slowly. During that time, Japan scored only the game, FIFA claimed that the new rules would force the teams to perform their replacements more quickly, instead of taking advantage of the final minutes of the game to interrupt the pace.
In regard to medical care, the current law continues to be adjusted in a direction of increasing time assessing injury status. A player must receive care from a doctor or physical therapist on the field, will have to leave the yard and stay out for at least a minute before being allowed to return. FIFA claimed that this time enabled the medical team to have a closer checkup and give the player a chance to recover, instead of quickly returning to the field just to buy time.
Meanwhile, VAR will gain further access to several new situations. The most notable point is that video referee support technology may suggest a review of the decision leading to the second yellow card if it is clearly wrong. At that time, the second yellow card and the following red card can be cancelled.
VAR is also allowed to correct the wrong player identification in warning situations or disbarred the right to compete.
In addition, decisions for the wrong angle penalty may also be adjusted before the angle penalty is made. FIFA emphasizes these are obvious situations, which can be processed for about 10 to 15 seconds without extended review processes. However, if the angle penalty was made, the decision would no longer be changed.
Eventually, FIFA continued to apply drinking intervals in harsh weather conditions. When temperatures or humidity at a level affect players' health, the referee may pause the game for additional water teams. These resorts typically take place around the 22nd minute of each round, but the specific time can vary in terms of the fact.