‘Turbo’ VAR and anti-time-wasting rules for Copa do Brasil

The International Football Association Board (IFAB), the body responsible for the rules of the sport, decided this Saturday (28) on changes in football.

After the annual meeting, the IFAB announced that six rules will be altered, coming into effect from the 2026 World Cup.

Check out what changes, with emphasis on the increased power of VAR and "anti-time-wasting" practices.

1. Time rule also for goal kicks and throw-ins

The eight-second rule currently applies to goalkeeper restarts and throws – including the public countdown of the last five seconds by the referee.

This principle will also be extended to goal kick situations and throw-ins. The start of the countdown is at the referee's discretion.

If a goal kick is excessively delayed, the opposing team will receive a corner kick – just as it already happens with goalkeeper throws.

If there is "time-wasting" during a throw-in, the ball goes to the opponent.

2. Time limit on substitutions

From the new season, substituted players will have only ten seconds to leave the field after the substitution signal.

If a player does not comply, the intended substitute can only enter the field at the next stoppage of the game.

3. Players treated must stay off for one minute

Injured outfield players must continue to be treated off the field to keep game stoppages as short as possible. The new rule is that, after leaving the field, the player must wait at least one minute before returning, regardless of treatment time.

With this, the IFAB wants to prevent treatments from being used deliberately to delay the game – while ensuring that players can be treated without time pressure.

4. VAR can correct yellow-red cards (second yellow)

The video referee can intervene if the second warning before a yellow-red card (the famous expulsion for the second yellow) is clearly and obviously wrong.

However, if a yellow-red card is not shown, the rule remains the same: the VAR still cannot intervene in this case.

5. VAR can correct incorrect corner decisions

Clearly wrong decisions on corners can be corrected in the future, but only if the error is recognized immediately and can be corrected without major delays.

Therefore, the VAR should not meticulously check every corner kick.

6. More powers for VAR in player identity swaps

Until now, the VAR could intervene if there was a player identification error in a personal punishment, but only within the same team.

From the World Cup, the VAR will also be able to intervene if a player from the wrong team is accidentally punished.

So, what do you think of the changes, folks?

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.