The Ref Stop

IFAB Law Changes for 2025/26

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MarcusSFARef

MarcusSFARef

Youth Referee
Level 6 Referee
Thoughts on IFAB’s proposed changes?
These would include that if the goalkeeper holds the ball for more than 8 seconds, the referee will award a corner kick to the opposing team.

Also info about successful introduction of Body Cams for grassroots officials in England. There will be more training and education around this in order to expand into FIFA competitions.

https://www.theifab.com/news/the-ifab-tackles-goalkeeper-time-wasting/

  • Law 12.2 (Indirect free kick):
    • Goalkeepers holding the ball for longer than 8 seconds (after a visual 5-second countdown) will result in a corner kick to the opposing team (instead of an indirect free kick).
  • Law 3.10 (Team captain):
    • Guidelines introduced for competitions allowing only captains to approach referees in specific situations.
    • Aim: Enhance fairness and mutual respect between players and referees.
  • Law 8.2 (Dropped ball):
    • If outside the penalty area, dropped ball goes to the team that had or would have gained possession (or last touched it).
  • Law 9.2 (Ball in play):
    • Indirect free kick (no sanction) awarded if a non-player touches the ball as it leaves the field, with no unfair interference.
  • VAR Protocol:
    • Referees can make announcements after VAR reviews or lengthy checks.
  • Assistant Referee Positioning:
    • During penalty situations, assistant referees must align with the penalty mark (offside line).

Body Cameras for Referees​

  • Trials of referee body cameras for training and education purposes to expand in FIFA competitions.
  • Successful grassroots use in England to be further tested and promoted.

Offside Trials​

  • Additional trials planned to encourage attacking football and goal-scoring opportunities.

Video Support Technology​

  • Football Video Support: Cost-effective system tested successfully in 2024, now expanding to more competitions.

Concussion Awareness​

  • Update on FIFA’s ‘Suspect and Protect’ campaign, expanding locally through information sessions.

Other Updates​

  • Changes to Laws of the Game come into effect on 1 July 2025, but early adoption allowed for FIFA Club World Cup 2025 (starting 14 June 2025).
  • Meeting attended by FIFA, The FA, Scottish FA, FA of Wales, and The IFAB administration.
 
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I like the sound of most of that esp goalkeeper/corner scenario. Be interesting to see how strict they enforce it and if they can do it consistently

Query on this:
  • Assistant Referee Positioning:
    • During penalty situations, assistant referees must align with the penalty mark (offside line)
Doesn't seem workable in comps without glt
 
9.2 and the assistant referee positioning both sensible changes
 
es1 said:
I like the sound of most of that esp goalkeeper/corner scenario. Be interesting to see how strict they enforce it and if they can do it consistently

Query on this:
  • Assistant Referee Positioning:
    • During penalty situations, assistant referees must align with the penalty mark (offside line)
Doesn't seem workable in comps without glt
Click to expand...
What does this AR thing mean?
 
santa sangria said:
What does this AR thing mean?
Click to expand...
I was confused too, but I found this explanation, not sure if it’s correct/reliable or not:

  • Old positioning: Assistant referees typically stand in line with the goal line to judge whether the ball crosses it (goal or no goal).
  • New positioning: During penalties, assistant referees should stand in line with the penalty mark (12 yards from the goal), which becomes the offside line for that moment.
This is because the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) now monitors goal/no goal and goalkeeper encroachment, so the assistant referee doesn't need to focus on the goal line. Instead, they assist with offside decisions or other potential infringements.
 
MarcusSurreyRef said:
I was confused too, but I found this explanation, not sure if it’s correct/reliable or not:

  • Old positioning: Assistant referees typically stand in line with the goal line to judge whether the ball crosses it (goal or no goal).
  • New positioning: During penalties, assistant referees should stand in line with the penalty mark (12 yards from the goal), which becomes the offside line for that moment.
This is because the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) now monitors goal/no goal and goalkeeper encroachment, so the assistant referee doesn't need to focus on the goal line. Instead, they assist with offside decisions or other potential infringements.
Click to expand...
I think that’s it, it will be in the VAR section and clearly wouldn’t work without VAR.
 
In which case they should clarify this this new position only applies in the 0.01% of games that have VAR. This is presumably in the guidance for referees rather than the laws?
 
Trip said:
In which case they should clarify this this new position only applies in the 0.01% of games that have VAR. This is presumably in the guidance for referees rather than the laws?
Click to expand...
It isn’t anywhere yet, other than in the proposals for law changes that IFAB will discuss. It will definitely be in the VAR section given it doesn’t have a law number next to it.
 
Feel its a bit of a shame there's nothing clamping down on Goalkeepers going down injured for a little tactical break for teams. Seems to be something happening more often at the moment.
 
Josh the referee said:
Feel its a bit of a shame there's nothing clamping down on Goalkeepers going down injured for a little tactical break for teams. Seems to be something happening more often at the moment.
Click to expand...
I mean what really can they do to stop it? As we all know, they’re not truly injured - but we can’t do anything about it. I don’t see yet how any change could surely prevent this
 
I don't like the drop ball change, makes it less cut and dry and seems like a bit of a dissent-magnet at lower levels when there's that element of ambiguity to it.
 
MarcusSurreyRef said:
I mean what really can they do to stop it? As we all know, they’re not truly injured - but we can’t do anything about it. I don’t see yet how any change could surely prevent this
Click to expand...
It is almost always done to allow the manager to have a tactical briefing with the players. So cut out the benefits of it, if a keeper is injured and having treatment no player is allowed within 15m of the technical area. Problem solved.
 
I like the 12.2 change, as long as referees at all levels are told they must deal with it.

8.2 less so, as sometimes a referee will have no idea where the ball would have gone and that means guesswork. Especially for a referee on their own, or those in teams without comms.
 
12.2 is all well and good, but they have to actually enforce it on a consistent basis. Not randomly do it every now and again

3.10 Load of nonsense
 
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