The International Football Association Board (IFAB) has made changes to the laws of the game which will be applied from the 2026-27 season onwards, and at the Fifa World Cup which kicks off on June 11 in the US, Mexico and Canada.“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,” Fifa chief refereeing officer Pierluigi Collina told reporters.“These amendments aim to tackle discrimination, cut time-wasting, enhance match tempo and improve the player and fan experience.”PLAYERS COVERING THEIR MOUTHSA player who covers their mouth with their hand, arm or shirt in confrontational situations will receive a red card.The new rule comes into effect after Benfica’s Gianluca Prestianni was accused of making discriminatory slurs to Vinicius Jnr with his mouth covered. Prestianni was given a six-game suspension by Uefa, with his ban extended worldwide.However, players who cover their mouths while having friendly conversations with club teammates on opposing teams, for example, will not be punished.PLAYERS LEAVING FIELD OF PLAYPlayers who leave the field of play to protest 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 forfeit the match.The new rule comes into effect after Senegal stormed off the field in protest at a penalty awarded against them in the Africa Cup of Nations final before they returned to beat hosts Morocco 1-0 after extra time.THROW-IN AND GOAL-KICK COUNTDOWNSReferees will start a visual 5sec 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 PROTOCOLPlayers have 10sec 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 10sec, the substitute may enter only at the first stoppage after 1min has elapsed after the restart and the referee gives them the signal.Exceptions are player injuries and concerns related to safety and security.OFF-FIELD TREATMENTAn outfield player must leave the field of play for 1min after the restart if medical staff enter the pitch to treat them.Exceptions are goalkeeper injuries, collisions between a goalkeeper and 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.VAR PROTOCOL“We started [using] VAR (Video Assistant Referee) in Fifa competitions in 2017 at the Confederations Cup before the World Cup in Russia in 2018,” Collina said.“We think it is the time to reconsider the protocol which was written when there was very limited experience.”VAR may now intervene for the following incidents:Red card 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 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 BREAKSThere will be a 3min 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 INJURIESIf 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. Reuters