The International Football Association Board (IFAB) has approved proposals for expanded powers for video referees. These include reviews of incorrect corner kick decisions and erroneous card assignments, provided the game is not delayed. The changes could apply at the 2026 World Cup and in the Bundesliga from next season.
At its annual general meeting in London, the IFAB has taken the next step toward new rules for video referees. In future, they will be able to intervene in clearly incorrect corner kick decisions, as well as in yellow cards that serve as a second warning leading to a yellow-red card, and in cards assigned to the wrong team. A condition is that the review, especially for corners, does not delay the game. Associations can optionally introduce the change.
The proposals are not yet final and require confirmation at the IFAB's General Assembly on February 28 in Hensol, Wales. Rule changes usually take effect on June 1. This means the expanded VAR powers could be used at the 2026 World Cup in the USA, Mexico, and Canada. In the Bundesliga, they would be possible from the 2026/27 season.
Additionally, other proposals aim to speed up the game. The existing eight-second rule for goalkeepers holding the ball will now apply to throw-ins and goal kicks, with the referee showing a countdown using fingers. For substitutions, players must leave the field within ten seconds. The waiting time for injured players treated on the pitch outside the field will still be determined.
These initiatives come from the IFAB's Technical Commission from last autumn and are considered likely to be implemented. The IFAB, which sets all world football rules, includes four FIFA representatives, including President Gianni Infantino, and one representative each from the associations of England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.
