The BBC has reported that, starting from the 2026/27 season, football’s lawmakers at the International Football Association Board (IFAB) have approved significant new measures aimed at cracking down on time-wasting and improving the overall flow and tempo of matches.
These changes build on previous efforts, such as the existing eight-second limit for goalkeepers holding the ball which results in a corner if exceeded, and introduce stricter, more immediate penalties for delays during restarts and substitutions.
One of the key innovations involves restarts like goal kicks and throw-ins. A countdown timer will now apply to these situations, giving players a limited window to get the ball back into play.
If a player deliberately or excessively delays taking the restart, possession will automatically switch to the opposing team. In practical terms, this means a goal kick that is not taken promptly could be converted into a corner kick awarded to the opposition, while a delayed throw-in would simply be handed over to the other side as their throw-in.
The goal is to eliminate the common tactic of slow, time-consuming preparations for these set pieces, which have increasingly disrupted match rhythm in recent years, including the rise in deliberate long-throw routines that cause extended stoppages.
Additionally, the rules target slow substitutions, another frequent source of time-wasting, especially late in games when teams seek to run down the clock. A substituted player will now be required to leave the field of play within 10 seconds of the substitution board being shown (or the referee’s signal, if no board is used).
If the outgoing player fails to exit within this timeframe—whether by walking slowly, stopping to argue, or otherwise lingering—their designated replacement will not be allowed to enter the pitch immediately.
Instead, the team will be forced to continue with one fewer player (playing short-handed) for a minimum of 60 seconds of running time, and the substitute can only come on after that period has elapsed and the ball next goes out of play. This creates a real disincentive for dragging out substitutions and ensures the game keeps moving forward.
These updates, set to take effect from June 1, 2026 (with application in competitions from the 2026/27 season onward, and potentially earlier in some cases), form part of a broader package to reduce “tempo disruption” and “time lost” in matches.
They follow successful trials and experiments (including in leagues like MLS) and are expected to be in place for major events such as the 2026 World Cup.
Overall, the changes represent one of the most direct attempts in recent years to address the ongoing issue of declining ball-in-play time and restore a faster, more continuous style of football.