The International Football Association Board has introduced a suite of law changes ahead of the World Cup in the United States, Mexico and Canada that will also appear in leagues worldwide next season, according to former Select Group referee Andy Davies. Davies, who spent more than 12 seasons on the elite list and has worked in the VAR space in the Premier League, outlined the main alterations and their intended effects.
VAR’s remit has been expanded to allow review of several situations that previously could not be checked, Davies said. The additions include incorrectly awarded corner kicks where review will not delay the restart; attacking fouls that occur before play is restarted when a restart led to a goal, penalty, corner or free kick; a clearly incorrect red card issued as a second yellow; and cases of mistaken identity when the wrong player is cautioned or sent off.
New disciplinary guidance targets players who hide their mouths during confrontations. Any player who covers their mouth with a hand, arm or shirt while engaging with an opponent may receive a red card, a change introduced to prevent potentially racist comments from being concealed. Davies noted that friendly conversations remain permissible, but any hint of confrontation could trigger the sanction. The change followed an incident involving Benfica’s Gianluca Prestianni and Real Madrid’s Vinicius Junior in the UEFA Champions League.
Substitution procedures have been tightened to speed play. A substituted player must leave the field within 10 seconds at the nearest exit; failing that, the incoming substitute must wait at least one minute until the next stoppage and be waved on by the referee, meaning the team plays with 10 men until the replacement enters, Davies explained.
Referees may now use a five-second countdown for slow restarts on throw-ins and goal kicks. Davies said the referee will raise a hand to start the count; if the ball is not in play when the countdown ends, possession will be reversed — an opponent’s throw-in or, in the case of a delayed goal kick, a corner will be awarded.
Medical stoppage protocol now requires an outfield player treated by medical staff to leave the pitch for one minute, with exceptions for goalkeeper or severe injuries. Davies criticized the rule as unnecessarily punitive, citing the Premier League’s 30-second model and noting it reduced on-pitch treatment incidents by more than 70 percent; he said the one-minute requirement unfairly disadvantages teams.
