IFAB Unveils New Football Rules for the 2025/26 Season

The International Football Association Board (IFAB) has implemented several significant rule modifications that will come into force starting with the 2025/26 football season.

The purpose of these amendments is to boost fairness, accelerate gameplay, and elevate the general enjoyment for participants, referees, and spectators.

A significant modification includes imposing an eight-second restriction on goalkeepers holding the ball. Should they surpass this time frame, the opposition will receive a corner kick rather than merely being granted an indirect free-kick as before.

For better understanding in scenarios involving dropped balls, the team that unmistakably controlled the ball when play was halted outside the penalty box will retain possession. If ownership cannot be determined, the ball shall be awarded to the team that last touched it.

A further modification addresses unintentional touch with the ball involving coaches, substitute players, or those who have been sent off but are still near the pitch. These occurrences will not lead to sanctions anymore; rather, the opposing team will receive an indirect free kick.

Initiatives to increase transparency in refereeing will enable officials to verbally clarify VAR decisions for fans, based on the specific tournament rules. Additionally, assistant referees will change their position, lining up with the penalty mark instead of staying at the goal line, which should improve precision in judging offside plays and goal-line incidents.

The issue surrounding penalty kicks is also receiving attention.

Should a player inadvertently make contact with the ball using both feet during a penalty kick and still manage to score, the original rule was changed so that the kick would be repeated instead of being nullified. This adjustment addresses controversies that arose in high-level competitions.

One of the highly awaited advancements for the event is the implementation of referee body cameras at the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup in the United States.

The objective of this measure is to provide supporters with an up-close look at the referee’s viewpoint and decision-making process on the pitch. Furthermore, drawing from rugby practices, only team captains will have permission to engage in communication with referees under certain circumstances, aiming to decrease congestion and stress around match officials.

These modifications will debut at the Club World Cup and are anticipated to pave the way for a more vibrant and open future for football worldwide.

Provided by Syndigate Media Inc. ( Syndigate.info ).

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