World Cup to see multiple new rules as football chiefs approve law changes involving VAR

Video assistant referees will be allowed to review second yellow cards and corners at the 2026 World Cup.

These additional powers have been announced as part of a series of measures from the International Football Association Board [IFAB].

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Football’s lawmakers have approved changes in their bid to ‘enhance match tempo’ and ‘reduce time-wasting’ across the game.

Fans can expect to see them come into play this summer during the World Cup, and then in all other competitions afterwards.

New powers for VAR

VAR will now be able to check and review red cards that are given for incorrect second yellows.

Last season, Rico Lewis was sent off for Manchester City for what the referee Robert Jones believed was a second yellow card offence.

Replays showed that Lewis was the fouled player so, if the new rules were in play, he would likely have avoided being dismissed.

VAR will also be allowed to review incorrectly awarded corners, as long as they can do so immediately and not delay the restart in play.

Marcus Tavernier netted the first goal for Bournemouth in their 2-0 win over Nottingham Forest directly from a corner.

As per replays, the ball did not come off a Forest player, so the corner may not have been taken anyway with the new regulation.

Furthermore, VAR can intervene when it comes to mistaken identity.

This is when a referee penalises the incorrect team for an offence that leads to a red or yellow card for the wrong player.

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Time is of the essence

As of this season, goalkeepers are penalised for holding onto the ball for too long.

They must follow an eight-second rule and should they breach this, a corner is awarded to the opposing team.

Throw-ins and goal kicks are now set to face similar countdowns, but this time it is limited at five seconds.

Should play not have resumed after this, the opposition will be given a throw-in or corner kick for each scenario respectively.

Substitutions will also be given time limitations under the new rules.

Players must exit the pitch within ten seconds of the board showing their number, or the referee’s signal.

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Failure to do so means they must still go off, but the substitute is not allowed to come on until the first stoppage after one minute of play.

Mouth covering to be challenged

IFAB also said they would discuss players covering their mouths when they confront opponents during matches.

This follows a report made by Vinicius Jr of alleged racist abuse from Gianluca Prestianni during Benfica vs Real Madrid on February 17.

Vinicius informed referee Francois Letexier, who then followed FIFA protocol and paused the Champions League play-off match.

Prestianni was seen speaking whilst holding his shirt over his mouth, making it difficult to fully know what he said.

The Argentinian was given a provisional one-match suspension by UEFA amid an investigation into the incident.