Controversy at the Africa Cup of Nations 2026 has influenced sweeping changes to the Laws of the Game, with the International Football Association Board (IFAB) confirming new rules that will be enforced from the 2026-27 season and at the FIFA World Cup 2026. The reforms include strict punishments for players leaving the field in protest and new disciplinary action for covering the mouth during confrontational situations.
The changes were approved following a series of incidents during AFCON, most notably Senegal’s walkout during the final after a disputed penalty decision, before they returned to beat hosts Morocco 1-0 after extra time, an episode that has now influenced global football law.
“These amendments aim to tackle discrimination, cut time-wasting, enhance match tempo and improve both the player and fan experience,” FIFA Chief Refereeing Officer Pierluigi Collina said as quoted by Reuters.
“The IFAB approved a set of landmark changes to the Laws of the Game and the FIFA World Cup 2026 will be the first major tournament to use them,” Collina added.
Among the key reforms, players who leave the field of play to protest a referee’s decision will now be shown a red card. Team officials who encourage such actions can also be sanctioned, while teams that cause a match to be abandoned will automatically forfeit the game.
In a separate disciplinary update, players covering their mouths in confrontational situations may also face red cards if intent is deemed inappropriate, following past incidents of alleged discriminatory behaviour. The most recent case involved Benfica’s Gianluca Prestianni, who was accused of using derogatory slurs towards Vinicius Jr while covering his mouth. Prestianni was given a six-game suspension by UEFA, with his ban extended worldwide.
FULL LIST OF CHANGES:
Leaving the field of play –
- Players who leave the field of play to protest about a referee’s decision will be shown a red card.
- The rule will also apply to any team official who incites players to leave the field of play in protest.
- Teams which cause a match to be abandoned will now forfeit the match.
Covering mouth –
- A player who covers their mouth with their hand, arm or shirt in confrontational situations will receive a red card.
- However, players who cover their mouths while having friendly conversations with club teammates on opposing teams, for example, will not be punished.
Throw-in and goal-kick countdowns –
- Referees will start a visual five-second countdown with a raised hand.
- If the ball is not in play at the end of the countdown, a throw-in is awarded to the opponents.
- If a goal-kick is not taken at the end of the countdown, a corner kick is awarded to the opponents.
Substitution protocols –
- Players have 10 seconds to leave the field when the substitution board has been shown.
- Players must leave the field at the nearest point on the boundary line.
- If the player being substituted does not leave the field of play within 10 seconds, the substitute may enter only at the first stoppage after one minute has elapsed following the restart and the referee gives them the signal.
- Exceptions: player injuries, concerns related to safety and security.
Off-field treatment –
- An outfield player must leave the field of play for one minute after the restart if medical staff entered the pitch to treat them.
- Exceptions: goalkeeper injuries, collisions between a goalkeeper and an outfield player, collisions between teammates that need attention, severe injury (such as head injuries and concussions), or when the injured player is set to take a penalty.
Video Assistant Referee (VAR) protocol –
VAR may now intervene for the following incidents:
- A red card is issued from a clearly incorrect yellow card.
- Mistaken identity: a player is shown a yellow or red card for an offence committed by another player.
- Incorrectly awarded corner kicks: VAR can intervene if the decision can be corrected immediately without delaying the restart.
- VAR can now intervene when a foul is committed before play restarts (for example: when an attacker fouls a defender before the ball is in play from a set-piece).
“VAR will recommend an on-field review, following which, if the referee determines that an offence occurred before the ball was in play, the appropriate disciplinary action will be taken and the corner kick or free kick will be retaken,” IFAB said.
Hydration breaks –
- There will be a three-minute hydration break in each half in every match.
- The break will be taken around the halfway mark of each half (22nd minute).
- Referees have been given a bit of flexibility with the timing of the break. For example, if a player is injured and requires treatment in the 20th minute, the referee can signal the hydration break.
Goalkeeper injuries –
- If a goalkeeper is receiving treatment on the pitch, players from both teams will not be allowed to leave the field of play and have a ‘timeout’ with their respective coaches.
– Ends
