Revolution in football. New substitution rules, VAR updates, and the fight against time-wasting
In addition to anti-discrimination measures, IFAB has approved a package of changes aimed at increasing the pace of the game and reducing time-wasting. These innovations will be in effect as early as the 2026 World Cup.
According to Diario AS, a five-second visual countdown will now be used for throw-ins and goal kicks. If the ball is not put back into play within that time, the opposition will be awarded the throw-in or a corner kick, respectively.
The substitution procedure has also been overhauled. Players are now required to leave the pitch within ten seconds after the substitution signal. If they delay, the change can only be made at the next stoppage or after one minute of play, with their team playing shorthanded in the meantime. Additionally, if a player receives medical attention on the field and the match is stopped because of it, they must remain off the pitch for at least one minute after play resumes.
Major adjustments have also been made to the VAR protocol. The system can now review mistakenly issued second yellow cards and cases of incorrect player identification. The biggest innovation: VAR now has the right to quickly correct obvious errors in awarding corners and goal kicks, provided the intervention does not slow down the flow of the match.
Jan Novak
Dailysports's expert
