Stay up to date with notifications from The IndependentNotifications can be managed in browser preferences.Jump to contentThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged inAllNewsSportCultureLifestyleFootball's governing body, Fifa, has prohibited the practice of goalkeepers feigning injury to allow teammates to receive tactical instructions from coaches on the touchline, a measure aimed at preventing time-wasting at the World Cup. Under the new rules, if a goalkeeper is injured, players from both teams must remain in their positions or gather in the centre circle, strictly forbidden from approaching the touchline for coaching advice. Further measures to speed up play include a five-second countdown for throw-ins and goal-kicks, with penalties for deliberate delays, and a ten-second limit for substituted players to leave the field at the nearest point, otherwise the team plays with ten men for a minute. Players covering their mouths during confrontational exchanges with opponents may now face a red card, a rule introduced following a high-profile incident involving alleged racist abuse. Video Assistant Referee (VAR) protocols have been updated, granting VAR new powers to intervene if clear fouls are committed by the attacking team immediately before the ball is in play at set-pieces, impacting a goal, penalty, or disciplinary sanction. In fullGoalkeeper tactical timeouts to be banned and five other World Cup rule changesThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in

FIFA’s on-field officials for the World Cup will insist on keeping matches moving by taking rule changes designed to limit time-wasting seriously, the sport’s governing body said…

A raft of landmark rule changes will come into force ahead of this summer’s World Cup

Video assistant referees can now step in if attacking team commits a clear foul before the ball is in play and has a direct impact on a goal, penalty kick or disciplinary sanction

Players at the 2026 FIFA World Cup will no longer be allowed to leave the field to receive instructions from coaches when a goalkeeper is being treated

Red cards for covering mouths, corner kicks for time wasting and broadened use of VAR technology will be implemented.

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FIFA and IFAB unveil strict new laws for the 2026 World Cup, targeting time-wasting, tougher red cards, faster VAR checks and quicker restarts.

The practice of goalkeepers going down ‘injured’, allowing their team-mates to rush to the touchline to receive tactical advice from coaches will be prohibited along with a raft…

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