Physical Address
304 North Cardinal St.
Dorchester Center, MA 02124
Clear position on FIFA changes
The new rules for the 2026 World Cup are causing widespread debate in Germany, as they are in all major leagues and around the world.
The German Football Association has decided which FIFA amendments will be accepted in the German league (Bundesliga) for the new season in 2026-2027, and which will not be accepted.
Changes to the rules of the World Cup were discussed at a meeting of the Referee Association of the German Football Association and its CEO Knut Kircher (57 years old) and the Bundesliga Football Committee in Frankfurt on Monday.
Covering the mouth… a dialectical law
Among the important decisions was to continue to exclude corner kicks from the review of Video Assistant Referee (VAR) technology. This decision aims to prevent an increase in the number of VAR interventions.
Bild newspaper writes: “There is a clear policy on unsportsmanlike conduct. Players who cover their mouths with their hands or jerseys during an argument with an opponent will not receive a red card, but may only receive a yellow card. At the World Cup, two players were sent off for covering their mouths with their hands during an argument with an opponent.
Under the microscope. Rules and behavior of the team captain towards the referees
Kircher, head of the DFB’s refereeing committee, explains what referees should focus on in the new season. The focus is on the consistent application of the armband rule, which has been repeatedly ignored at the World Cup. Furthermore, unsportsmanlike conduct will be punished with more severe penalties. This includes, among other things, deliberately delaying the restart of quick play during penalty kicks and disrespectful behavior towards the referees, such as complaining or waving hands dismissively.
Bild continued. “There is another point regarding the positions around the goalkeeper. Referees need to distinguish more clearly whether the attacker is positioned next to, behind or in front of the opposing goalkeeper. It is permissible. However, if the player actually moves his body towards the goalie, it interferes with him and thus prevents him from catching or blocking the score.”
Avoid trying to waste time
Under the new changes, which will come into force from the start of next season, referees will ensure that goal kicks and throws are taken quickly, within five seconds. If this does not happen, the possession of the ball passes to the opposing team, which receives a throw-in or a corner kick instead of a goal kick. This procedure aims to reduce time wastage.
Substitutions will also happen faster, with the substitute player having to leave the pitch within ten seconds. If he is late for the substitution, he is prohibited from entering the game until one minute later, or when the game is stopped. Until then, the team plays with one player less.
During the injury treatment period, players receiving treatment on the field or stopping play due to an injury must leave the field for at least one minute. An exception is made for goalkeepers and players who require treatment after a foul that results in an opponent receiving a yellow or red card. An injured player who takes a penalty kick may also continue the game.
