Global football’s law-making body, The International Football Association Board (IFAB), has approved a landmark package of reforms aimed at protecting effective playing time, reducing time-wasting and strengthening disciplinary oversight ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2026.

The decisions were taken at IFAB’s 140th Annual General Meeting (AGM), chaired by Mike Jones, President of the Football Association of Wales, during celebrations marking the FAW’s 150th anniversary.

The reforms, which will apply from the 2026/27 season and be implemented at the 2026 World Cup and other competitions, respond to growing calls across the football community for measures that preserve match tempo and reduce deliberate disruption.

Five-Second Countdown for Throw-Ins and Goal Kicks

Building on last season’s amendment preventing goalkeepers from holding the ball for excessive periods, IFAB has extended the countdown principle to throw-ins and goal kicks.

If a referee judges that a restart is being deliberately delayed, a visible five-second countdown will begin. Failure to put the ball back into play within that period will result in possession being awarded to the opposing team. In the case of a delayed goal kick, the sanction escalates to a corner kick for the opposition.

The measure is designed to eliminate a common time-management tactic frequently deployed late in matches.

Strict Timelines for Substitutions

To further streamline match flow, substituted players must leave the field within 10 seconds of the substitution board being displayed or the referee’s signal being given.

Players who exceed that limit must still exit immediately, but their replacement will not be allowed to enter until the next stoppage after one minute of running clock time has elapsed — effectively discouraging slow exits intended to run down the clock.

Mandatory One-Minute Absence After On-Field Treatment

Under another significant change, players who receive on-field medical assessment — or whose injury prompts a stoppage — must leave the pitch and remain off for at least one minute once play resumes.

The rule aims to curb tactical injury interruptions while still safeguarding genuine medical needs.

IFAB also approved further trials to assess goalkeeper-related tactical injury delays and explore deterrent options.

VAR Protocol Expanded to Include Second Yellow Cards

In a notable development for officiating, IFAB expanded the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) protocol.

The VAR will now be permitted to review:

• Red cards resulting from a clearly incorrect second yellow card;
• Mistaken identity cases where the wrong player is cautioned or sent off;
• Clearly incorrectly awarded corner kicks, provided the review can be completed immediately without delaying the restart.

The move addresses longstanding criticism that second cautions — unlike straight red cards — were previously outside VAR review scope, despite their decisive impact on matches.

IFAB also confirmed continued trials of semi-automated offside technology (SAOT) and ongoing development of FIFA-led Football Video Support (FVS).

Amendments to the Laws of the Game 2026/27

The next edition of the Laws of the Game, effective 1 July 2026 (with early adoption permitted), will introduce further clarifications and adjustments:

• Law 3: Senior ‘A’ international friendlies may now allow up to eight substitutes, expandable to eleven by mutual agreement.
• Law 4: Non-dangerous equipment will be permitted if safely covered.
• Law 5: Referee body cameras (head- or chest-mounted) may be used at competition discretion, with organisers controlling footage.
• Law 8: Clarifies that a dropped ball will be awarded to the team that would likely have retained possession.
• Laws 10 & 14: Formal incorporation of guidance on accidental “double touch” penalty incidents.
• Law 12: Where advantage is played for denying an obvious goalscoring opportunity and a goal is scored, the offender will not be cautioned.

Focus on Discriminatory Behaviour and Player Protests

Looking ahead to the 2026 World Cup, IFAB agreed that further consultation will be undertaken to develop tougher measures against discriminatory conduct.

The board will also examine scenarios where:

• Players leave the field collectively in protest of refereeing decisions;
• Players cover their mouths while confronting opponents — a practice viewed as undermining transparency.

A Forward-Looking Agenda

The AGM, attended by representatives from FIFA, The FA, the Scottish FA, the FA of Wales, the Irish FA and IFAB administration, signals what officials described as a decisive effort to modernise the sport.

With the 2026 World Cup on the horizon, IFAB’s reforms represent one of the most comprehensive tempo-focused overhauls in recent years — an attempt to ensure that football remains faster, fairer and more resistant to manipulation of time.

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Gianni Infantino has marked the 10th anniversary of his election as FIFA President by declaring that “we have brought football back to FIFA and FIFA back to football,” while thanking the organisation’s 211 member associations for their support over the past decade.

In a letter sent to the presidents of all 211 member associations, Infantino reflected on his election at the Extraordinary Congress in Zurich, Switzerland, on 26 February 2016, recalling that FIFA was facing a crisis that threatened its very existence at the time.

“By voting for me, the FIFA Congress chose to chart a new path forward built on reform, transparency and development,” he wrote. “I believe we have successfully brought football back to FIFA and FIFA back to football. And we have done so together.”

Infantino stressed that unity between FIFA and its Member Associations had been central to the organisation’s transformation.

“It is therefore with a great sense of unity that I would like to extend my deepest thanks for your work, your dedication and, of course, your unwavering support in making this possible and for your role in bringing FIFA back to football over the last 10 years,” he said.

Describing FIFA as “the glue that binds the footballing pyramid and the wider footballing ecosystem together,” Infantino underlined the importance of a strong and trusted governing body for the continued growth of the sport.

“A strong, trusted and unified FIFA is not only desirable, but also in fact necessary for our sport to continue to flourish,” he added. “Although we live in a world marked by division and conflict, football is still the great power that unites us all.”

Key achievements highlighted

In his message, the FIFA President outlined 11 major achievements since 2016, beginning with increased financial support to Member Associations through the FIFA Forward Programme. Introduced in 2016, funding to MAs has increased sevenfold, with associations empowered to determine how best to invest in football development within their territories.

He also pointed to the FIFA Talent Development Scheme, designed to ensure that every young player has the opportunity to develop regardless of financial background or geography, alongside enhanced capacity building in administration, finance, infrastructure, medical services, safeguarding and women’s leadership.

Infantino noted greater involvement of Member Associations in decision-making through FIFA Executive Summits and newly introduced Standing Committees, as well as reforms aimed at boosting transparency, including annual accounts delivered under International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) and clearer bidding processes for major tournaments.

On the field, the introduction of the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) system in 2018 — now implemented in 83 Member Associations — was cited as a key step towards greater fairness. FIFA has since introduced VAR Light and Football Video Support to widen access to video technology. In 2024, all 211 MAs also unanimously backed a Global Stand Against Racism initiative.

Infantino further highlighted expanded playing opportunities across competitions. The FIFA World Cup has been expanded to 48 teams, while the FIFA Women’s World Cup grew to 32 teams in 2023 and is set to expand to 48 from 2031. More than 1,700 women’s development projects have been delivered across 204 Member Associations.

Youth competitions have also been broadened, including the expansion of the FIFA U-17 World Cup for both boys and girls and the introduction of a new festival-style FIFA U-15 Youth World Cup open to all 211 MAs.

The letter referenced relief measures during times of hardship, notably the COVID-19 Relief Plan, which made USD 1.5 billion available, emergency disaster funding via the FIFA Foundation, and a post-conflict recovery fund approved in December 2025 to support football communities affected by war.

At club level, Infantino highlighted the historic first 32-team FIFA Club World Cup in 2025, the new FIFA Women’s Club World Cup planned for 2028, and the launch of annual intercontinental competitions and an expanded FIFA Club Benefits Programme.

Concluding his message, Infantino reiterated his gratitude to Member Associations for “keeping the best interests of football at heart,” expressing confidence that a united global football community would continue to drive the sport’s growth in the years ahead.

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Robert Terlumun Akpenpuun, a former Nigeria Premier League match commissioner and protocol officer with the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), has completed the CAF–WAFU Zone B General Coordinators Training Course held in Porto Novo, Benin Republic.

Akpenpuun, an Assistant Comptroller with the Nigerian Immigration Service currently on diplomatic assignment at the Nigerian Embassy in Côte d’Ivoire, was among five NFF personnel nominated to participate in the programme by the President of WAFU Zone B, Ibrahim Musa Gusau.

He commended Gusau for the opportunity, describing the training as a valuable platform for professional development and regional collaboration.

The course, facilitated by Moroccan instructor Mustapha Slaoui, brought together participants from seven West African countries. Each nation was represented by four delegates, evenly split along gender lines, underscoring a commitment to inclusivity in football administration.

All the participants, including the President of the Benin Republic football federation and the course coordinator, Mustapha Slaoui.

Also present at the programme was the Executive Director of WAFU Zone B, Philip Tchere.

Strengthening Match Operations

General coordinators play a pivotal but often unseen role in continental football competitions, ensuring seamless organisation and compliance with regulations during matches.

The training covered key aspects of the profession, including the strategic role of the general coordinator within the competition framework, mastery of CAF regulations and procedures, operational match management, leadership and communication, administrative reporting, and multi-stakeholder coordination.

Course instructor, Morocco’s Mustapha Slaoui is flanked by WAFU Zone B Executive Director, Philip Tchere  (Left) and Nigeria’s Robert Akpenpuun

The course combined theoretical instruction with practical simulations, exposing participants to real-world scenarios aimed at embedding standardised protocols in professional practice.

CAF’s Governance Drive

Beyond technical instruction, the initiative reflects the Confederation of African Football’s broader ambition to harmonise operational standards and enhance governance across the region.

By investing in the capacity-building of match officials and administrators, CAF aims to elevate the credibility, efficiency and professionalism of competitions within WAFU Zone B and across the continent.

For Akpenpuun, whose career has spanned match commissioning, federation protocol duties and diplomatic service, the programme adds another layer of expertise as African football continues to professionalise its administrative structures.

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