New rule changes ahead of World Cup: Is more VAR a good thing?

DAR ES SALAAM: THE International Football Association Board, which sets the laws of football, has agreed to make some big changes starting July 1, but those changes will also be adopted at this summer’s 2026 World Cup, which kicks off on June 11.

Using the VAR to check corners will be an option, while the core VAR protocol has now been widened to cover second yellow cards and cards awarded to the wrong team.

And the IFAB also approved a package of measures to counter tactics designed to disrupt the tempo of matches — though the physical issues we’ve seen this season from corners was not deemed to be serious enough to address. But will these new rules help or hinder the game?

We take a look. A five-second countdown for throw-ins and goal kicks Rule: If the referee considers that a throwin or goal kick is taking too long or being deliberately delayed, a five-second visual countdown will be initiated.

If the ball is not in play at the end of the countdown, the throw-in will be awarded to the opposing team, while a delayed goal kick will result in a corner kick being awarded to the opponents.

ALSO READ: VAR promised justice, but at what cost to the beautiful game?

Ten-second time limit for substituted players to leave the pitch Rule: To further streamline match flow, substituted players must leave the field of play within 10 seconds of the substitution board being displayed or, where there is no substitution board, of the referee’s signal.

Should the player fail to leave within this time, they must still exit the field, but the substitute will not be permitted to enter until the first stoppage after one minute (running clock) has elapsed following the restart.

An injured player has to be off the field for a minute Rule: Where a player receives on-field assessment for an injury, or their injury causes play to be stopped, the player will be required to leave the field of play and remain off it for one minute (running clock) once play has restarted.

But an injured player doesn’t have to leave the field if their opponent receives a card Rule: Players who are injured and treated on the pitch after a foul challenge that resulted in the offender receiving a yellow or red card will not be asked to leave the pitch.