IFAB, FIFA’s top refereeing body, will put into effect major changes starting from next season which could make the game faster and fairer.
One of the big changes is for goalkeepers. If a keeper holds the ball for more than eight seconds, the other team will get a corner kick instead of an indirect free kick. Referees will count down the seconds with their hands.
The offside rule is still being reviewed, but VAR decisions will now be made public, meaning that fans and players will be able to see and hear the reasoning behind the referee’s decision.
A new rule will also stop players from crowding over the referees. Only the team captain will be allowed to approach them in certain situations, in the hopes of improving communication and reducing arguments between players and officials.
The neutral drop ball rule is changing, too. If the play is stopped when the ball is outside the penalty area, the ball will be dropped for the team that had or would have had possession. If it’s not clear, it goes to the team that last touched it.
FIFA has also made a rule about when players off the pitch touch the ball. If a team official or player who’s not on the field touches the ball, the other team gets an indirect free kick. There will be no red cards unless there was intent to interfere.
In the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup in the United States, referees will make announcements on speakers after VAR checks. This will give fans a clearer idea of the logic behind the decisions.
FIFA is also testing body cameras for referees. After good feedback from trials in some high-level matches, they’ll be used in the upcoming Club World Cup. The cameras will help with training and could improve refereeing standards.
On “Wenger’s law,” IFAB also decided to look for competitions to conduct additional offside trials that encourage attacking football. Therefore, the law is still under study.
