The International Football Association Board (IFAB) has approved a series of significant changes to the laws of the game, which will come into effect during the upcoming 2026 World Cup. The most important modifications include extending the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) system's authority to cover second yellow cards and corner kicks, as well as introducing strict time limits for restarts. These changes aim to eliminate deliberate time-wasting and increase fairness in on-field decisions.

Expanded role of the VAR system

Video technology will now include checking the validity of second yellow cards and decisions to award corner kicks.

Stop time-wasting

Introduction of time limits for restarts; exceeding the limit will result in immediate individual punishment.

Ban on covering the mouth

Players may be punished for covering their faces during on-field conversations, which aims to curb offensive remarks.

Debut at the 2026 World Cup

All new rules will be implemented globally during the upcoming World Cup in North America.

During its annual general meeting in Wales, IFAB decided to implement the most radical changes to the rules since the debut of video technology. The key point of the reform is the expansion of the VAR protocol. Starting from this year's World Cup, video referees will gain the right to intervene in situations involving second yellow cards, which directly affects player dismissals. Additionally, corner kicks will come under the system's scrutiny to prevent errors in awarding set pieces, which often decide match outcomes. The second pillar of the reform is an uncompromising crackdown on time-wasting. A countdown system has been introduced for throw-ins, free kicks, and player substitutions. If a player fails to restart play within the specified time limit, the referee will be obligated to issue a yellow card. The football community refers to the new regulations regarding punishment for simulation and provocation as the "Vinicius Law," alluding to frequent incidents involving the Brazilian star of Real Madrid. Another novelty is the planned punishment of players for covering their mouths during conversations with opponents or referees, which is intended to increase transparency and reduce abuse of match participants. The VAR system was officially introduced into the laws of the game in 2018, just before the World Cup in Russia, after several years of testing in domestic leagues. Since then, the protocol has been repeatedly criticized for its too narrow scope of authority or excessive interruption of the flow of the game. The decisions made in Wales will take effect from July 1, 2026, meaning they will be fully tested during the World Cup in the USA, Canada, and Mexico. Experts point out that these changes will force coaches and players to alter their on-field habits, especially in the final phases of matches, where time-wasting has been a standard tactic until now. FIFA hopes that thanks to the new rules, effective playing time will increase by several minutes in each match. „This is a historic moment for football. Our goal is to make the game faster, fairer, and more attractive to fans around the world.” — Gianni Infantino

Perspektywy mediów: Liberal and pro-technology media praise the changes as a necessary step towards professionalization and objectivity in sports. Conservative sports outlets warn against further fragmentation of matches and the loss of the traditional spirit of uninterrupted competition.

Mentioned People

  • Gianni Infantino — President of FIFA, present at the approval of the new rules.
  • Vinícius Júnior — Real Madrid player, whose name has become a colloquial term for the new rules regarding provocation and racism.