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Law changes for 2026/27 season
13th June, 2026
A number of changes to the Laws of the Game will be implemented at the start of the 2026/27 Macron NCEL season following the 140th Annual General Meeting of The International Football Association Board (IFAB) earlier this year.
Those that will affect our competition are as follows, listed here for the benefit of clubs, players and spectators:
Measures to deal with tempo disruption and time lost
Following last year’s successful introduction of the eight-second restriction on goalkeepers controlling the ball with their hands/arms (including the visual five-second countdown), the AGM members approved an additional set of measures aimed at further reducing both the number and duration of stoppages.
These measures are also intended to help preserve the flow and tempo of the game.
Their main principles are as follows:
• Throw-ins and goal kicks
When a throw-in/goal kick is being deliberately delayed by the team taking the restart, the referee will whistle, signal and start a visual five-second countdown.
If the ball is not in play at the end of the countdown:
For throw-ins: the referee will award the throw-in to the opposing team, to be taken from the same position as the original throw-in,
For goal kicks: the referee will award a corner kick to the opposing team, to be taken on the side of the field closest to where the goal kick was to be taken.
• Substitutions
Once a substitution has been signalled by the referee or the substitution board has been shown, the player being substituted must leave the field of play within ten seconds.
If they do not leave the field in time, they must still leave as quickly as possible but the substitute may not enter until the first stoppage after one minute (running clock) following the restart.
• Injuries
An injured outfield player who causes play to be stopped due to an actual or suspected injury or who receives assessment/treatment on the field of play must then leave and remain off the field for one minute (running clock) following the restart to allow the medical staff the necessary time to evaluate whether the player should continue playing, as well as to reduce disruption to the tempo of the match.
This provision does not apply to the situations outlined in Law 5 that do not require an injured player to leave the field of play.
Law 4 – The Players’ Equipment
Accessories (previously referred to as ‘jewellery’) will be permitted if they are not dangerous and if safely and securely covered.
Law 5 – The Referee
The advantage may be applied when a restart is incorrectly taken and the ball is in play.
Competitions will have the option of providing referees with body cameras.
Law 12 – Fouls and Misconduct
No caution (yellow card) for a Denying an Obvious Goal-Scoring Opportunity (DOGSO) offence if the advantage is played and a goal is scored.
For more information, and to see a full list of the law changes that come into effect from 1st July, 2026, please check out the IFAB website (click here).
Those that will affect our competition are as follows, listed here for the benefit of clubs, players and spectators:
Measures to deal with tempo disruption and time lost
Following last year’s successful introduction of the eight-second restriction on goalkeepers controlling the ball with their hands/arms (including the visual five-second countdown), the AGM members approved an additional set of measures aimed at further reducing both the number and duration of stoppages.
These measures are also intended to help preserve the flow and tempo of the game.
Their main principles are as follows:
• Throw-ins and goal kicks
When a throw-in/goal kick is being deliberately delayed by the team taking the restart, the referee will whistle, signal and start a visual five-second countdown.
If the ball is not in play at the end of the countdown:
For throw-ins: the referee will award the throw-in to the opposing team, to be taken from the same position as the original throw-in,
For goal kicks: the referee will award a corner kick to the opposing team, to be taken on the side of the field closest to where the goal kick was to be taken.
• Substitutions
Once a substitution has been signalled by the referee or the substitution board has been shown, the player being substituted must leave the field of play within ten seconds.
If they do not leave the field in time, they must still leave as quickly as possible but the substitute may not enter until the first stoppage after one minute (running clock) following the restart.
• Injuries
An injured outfield player who causes play to be stopped due to an actual or suspected injury or who receives assessment/treatment on the field of play must then leave and remain off the field for one minute (running clock) following the restart to allow the medical staff the necessary time to evaluate whether the player should continue playing, as well as to reduce disruption to the tempo of the match.
This provision does not apply to the situations outlined in Law 5 that do not require an injured player to leave the field of play.
Law 4 – The Players’ Equipment
Accessories (previously referred to as ‘jewellery’) will be permitted if they are not dangerous and if safely and securely covered.
Law 5 – The Referee
The advantage may be applied when a restart is incorrectly taken and the ball is in play.
Competitions will have the option of providing referees with body cameras.
Law 12 – Fouls and Misconduct
No caution (yellow card) for a Denying an Obvious Goal-Scoring Opportunity (DOGSO) offence if the advantage is played and a goal is scored.
For more information, and to see a full list of the law changes that come into effect from 1st July, 2026, please check out the IFAB website (click here).
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