Two new rules regarding red cards
If football players cover their mouth with their hand or shirt to prevent words from being read from their lips, they will be punished with a red card.
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“But only if it is a confrontational situation. If it is a friendly conversation, for example between two teammates, it will not be punished,” explained 66-year-old former famous football referee Pierluigi Collina, who leads the referees’ corps, presenting the rule changes to journalists.
This rule was introduced considering recent events: recently in the Champions League, Benfica player Gianluca Prestianni racially insulted Real Madrid star Vinicius Junior, covering his mouth with his shirt while making the insults. G. Prestianni was later suspended. Under the new rules, he would have been immediately sent off the field.
Another incident that led to changes: during the Africa Cup of Nations final with the Morocco team, Senegalese footballers left the field in protest against the referee’s decisions.
From now on, this will also be punished with a red card. Such a penalty will also await representatives of the national team staff if they order players to act this way.
Three rules regarding playing time
The five-second rule will apply to goalkeepers, who will have that time to kick or throw the ball into play. The referee will start counting the time, and if the goalkeeper does not release the ball quickly enough, the game will be restarted for the opponents with a corner kick.
Player substitutions will also be evaluated more strictly. A player leaving the field must leave within 10 seconds. If it takes longer, the player substituting the teammate will have to stay off the field for at least one more minute before being allowed to enter. In such a case, the team trying to waste time will play with one player less for a while. An exception will be made if the substitution is due to injury and the player cannot leave the pitch quickly enough.
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Time-wasting due to injuries will also be limited: a player receiving medical assistance will be allowed to return to the field only after one minute. In such a situation, his team will also play short-handed for a while.
Two new VAR rules
There will also be changes regarding video review (VAR): in cases where a player is sent off for a second yellow card, the second yellow card incident can be reviewed (but not the first). If the referee makes a mistake and shows a yellow or red card to the wrong player, a review is also possible.
Additionally, if an attacking team player clearly fouls a defending player before making a key action, thus preventing the defender from defending, and then a goal is scored, VAR can also intervene. In such a case, the game will be restarted for the defending team with a free kick.
Drinking rules
During all 104 World Cup matches, three-minute water breaks are planned, occurring approximately after 22 minutes in each half – the necessity will be assessed based on the stadium and weather conditions. How will this affect added time by referees? It is hard to say exactly, but three additional minutes should be added.
During the last World Cup, each stoppage added more and more playing time. England’s 6:2 win against Iran four years ago eventually lasted 27 extra minutes.
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