Overview
- Referees can initiate a five‑second visual countdown on slow throw‑ins and goal kicks, with failure to restart flipping possession to the opposition or awarding a corner.
- Substituted players must leave within 10 seconds or their replacement waits until the next stoppage after one minute of play; treated outfield players must remain off for one minute once play resumes.
- VAR can now intervene on red cards caused by an incorrect second yellow, on mistaken identity including the wrong team being penalized, and on clearly incorrect corners if corrected immediately.
- Corner‑kick reviews are optional for competitions, with some leagues such as the Premier League not expected to opt in, while adoption at the World Cup is planned and the changes enter the Laws on July 1.
- Further steps include trials of Arsène Wenger’s ‘daylight’ offside in Canada, expanded tests of coach challenges during a two‑year VAR review, goalkeeper treatment deterrent trials, and updates permitting referee cameras and clarifying dropped‑ball and penalty rules.