Innovation in Italian football! VAR for yellow cards and corner kicks

2026-07-17 18:28:00, Sport CNA

The 2026/27 football season will bring a series of important changes to the rules of the game. The Italian Referees' Association has confirmed the implementation of the innovations approved by the IFAB. The main aim of these changes is to reduce unnecessary interruptions, speed up the pace of matches and guarantee greater clarity in refereeing decisions.

One of the most important innovations is related to substitutions. According to the new rule, a player who leaves the field must leave within 10 seconds from the moment the referee gives the signal or the electronic scoreboard appears. If this deadline is not respected, the substitute player will not be able to enter the field immediately. He will have to wait for the first interruption of the game after at least one minute of effective play has passed since the restart of the match. Changes have also been made to throw-ins and goal kicks. Players will only have 5 seconds available to execute them. If the deadline is exceeded during a throw-in, the ball will pass to the opposing team. In the case of a delay in the goal kick, the referee may award a corner kick to the opposing team.

Another important point concerns the treatment of injuries. Any player on the field who receives medical attention or is assessed on the field will have to leave and remain out for at least one minute of play. Exceptions are goalkeepers, cases of serious collisions between players and injuries resulting from fouls punished with a yellow or red card. The VAR system will also have expanded powers. From the new season, it can intervene to correct clear cases of a second yellow card given incorrectly. There will also be the possibility of correction in cases where the referee incorrectly identifies the player who should be punished with a yellow or red card.

In some competitions, VAR intervention may also be allowed to correct wrongly awarded corners, but only if the decision can be overturned immediately without delaying the restart of play. The IFAB has also introduced stricter measures against inappropriate behaviour. Players who cover their mouths with their hands, arms or shirt in a provocative or insulting manner towards opponents can be punished with a straight red card.

Strict measures are also foreseen for protests against the refereeing. Players or officials who leave the field to oppose the referee's decisions, or encourage teammates to do the same, can be expelled. In cases where a team blocks the normal development of the match through protests, a loss is also foreseen at the table.

Other changes include allowing certain accessories and jewelry, as long as they are covered and do not pose a risk. Competition organizers can also authorize the use of body cameras by referees for monitoring and disciplinary purposes. New rules have also been established for penalties. If a player accidentally touches the ball with both feet during a kick and the ball ends up in the net, the penalty will be retaken. If the goal is not scored, the kick will be considered missed, without any additional card punishment.