Football will change. Measures to prevent players from gaining time on the sidelines, six meters or even injury simulations will be implemented from the 2026 World Cup, Ifab, the governing body of the rules, announced on Saturday.
Three main measures were ratified during the Ifab annual general meeting on Saturday in Wales, in order to “boost the pace of matches and limit time wasted”, according to a press release from the International Football Association Board.
One of them will allow the sanctioning of a player who “deliberately” delays the execution of a throw-in (it will be returned to the opponent) or a six-meter (a corner will be awarded to the opponent). Concretely, if the referee suspects such a maneuver, he triggers “a five-second visual countdown” at the end of which the sanction falls. A rule already at work when a goalkeeper keeps the ball in his hands for too long.
Change after Benfica-Real Madrid and Senegal-Morocco
Another measure announced, this time to limit injury simulations: if the medical staff comes to assist a player, he will leave the field and will only be able to return one minute after the resumption of play. Finally, a replaced player will have ten seconds to leave the pitch from the moment the assistant referee announces the change. Otherwise, his replacement will have to wait one minute on the edge of the field then wait until the next stoppage in play to enter.
Ifab has also extended the possibilities for using video assistance (VAR), particularly when doubt exists after a second yellow card for the same player, or after a disputed corner.
Finally, a reflection will be carried out concerning two scenarios: when players “unilaterally decide to leave the field” to protest against an arbitration decision, and when “players cover their mouths” during a verbal joust.
The first incident occurred in mid-January during the final of the African Cup of Nations between Senegal and Morocco. The second happened last week during the Champions League play-off between Benfica and Real Madrid. The Spanish club’s striker Vinicius Junior has complained about being called a “monkey” by Gianluca Prestianni, a Benfica player who put his shirt in front of his mouth before insulting him.
