Laws of the Game 2026/27

Key Changes and Practical Advice for Match Officials

As we prepare for the 2026/27 season, all match officials should take the time to familiarise themselves with the latest updates to the Laws of the Game.

Whilst many of the changes are straightforward, understanding how they should be applied in practice is just as important as knowing the Law itself. Below are the key changes alongside some practical guidance to help you manage them effectively on the field.

Covering the Mouth (Dismissal)

One of the talking points from the FIFA Men's World Cup was the dismissal procedure involving a player covering their mouth when making discriminatory comments.

This is NOT being introduced into English football for the 2026/27 season.

This procedure was specific to the FIFA Men's World Cup and will not be used in grassroots or professional football in England.

That means there will be no "Paraguay Number 10" moments in your local matches!

More importantly, if you receive an allegation of discriminatory abuse during a match, ensure you are familiar with The FA's discriminatory abuse reporting process and follow the correct procedures.

Throw-ins and Goal Kicks

One of the biggest changes this season is the introduction of a five-second visual countdown for delayed throw-ins and goal kicks.

If a player delays:

• Throw-in: Award the throw to the opposition.

• Goal kick: Award a corner kick to the opposition.

A caution is only required where delaying the opposition's restart becomes excessive.

The countdown isn't just about when a player has the ball. Delays can include:

• Slow retrieval of the ball.

• Standing in the wrong position.

• Any unnecessary action that delays the restart.

If the player has already started the throwing or kicking action before the countdown reaches zero, they are permitted to complete it.

Practical Advice

This Law is designed to prevent obvious time wasting—not to have referees counting down every restart.

Ask yourself:

• Is the team deliberately slowing the game down?

• Is the opposition becoming frustrated?

• Is this five minutes into the first half or the final five minutes with a team protecting a 1-0 lead?

Use common sense. Be proactive, communicate clearly and intervene when needed.

This countdown only applies to throw-ins and goal kicks. Continue to manage free kicks and corner kicks as you always have when dealing with delaying the restart.

Substitutions

Substituted players now have 10 seconds to leave the field of play.

If they fail to do so:

• The replacement player cannot enter until the next stoppage after one minute has passed.

Where multiple substitutions are taking place, the 10-second period begins once the final substitution has been indicated by the referee or assistant referee.

Practical Advice

Use the Law sensibly.

Players leaving with medical assistance should not be rushed.

Just like the sin bin procedure, the countdown starts when you (or your assistant referee) have completed the substitution process—not before.

If you do keep a substitute waiting, be prepared for everyone asking why they can't come on! Good communication will prevent confusion.

Jewellery

There is no change to the practical approach.

Jewellery remains generally unsafe and should not be worn during play.

Medical or religious items may only be worn where they are:

• Properly secured.

• Judged safe.

• Not considered a danger to the wearer or other players.

Safety remains the priority.

Protect the players, protect yourself and remember that your decision on whether an item is safe is final.

Cooling-Off Periods

One of the most exciting additions this season is the introduction of Cooling-Off Periods for grassroots football.

This applies to:

• Youth Football

• Men's football at Step 7 and below

• Women's football at Tier 5 and below

  
  

Referees can temporarily stop play when emotions are escalating and allow both teams time to calm down.

Players return to their own penalty areas while captains and coaches are expected to help restore control.

Failure to comply can result in sanctions, including dissent offences and sin bins.

A maximum of two Cooling-Off Periods may be used in a match, with the duration determined by the referee. Every use must also be reported to the competition.

Practical Advice

This is an excellent preventative tool.

Rather than waiting for a match to boil over, use it proactively when you feel the temperature of the game is becoming too high.

It could be particularly effective following:

• Multiple emotional incidents.

• A mass confrontation.

• Increasing levels of dissent.

Blow your whistle, point both teams towards their penalty areas and clearly instruct them to move.

Speak to both captains and managers, placing responsibility on them to improve their team's behaviour.

Give them the opportunity to calm their players before restarting the match when you're satisfied it's safe to continue.

Injury Management

An outfield player must now leave the field for one minute when:

• Play is stopped for an actual or suspected injury.

• Medical staff are called onto the field (even if no treatment is provided).

• The player requests treatment on the field.

A player does not have to leave for one minute when:

• They decline treatment at a natural stoppage.

• They leave voluntarily without delaying the restart.

• A Law 5 exception applies, including:

  • Goalkeeper injuries.

  • Two teammates colliding.

  • A goalkeeper colliding with a teammate.

  • Injuries resulting from a cautionable or sending-off offence.

  • A penalty has been awarded and the injured player will take it.

Practical Advice

If you've stopped play for an injury and called medical staff onto the field, remember the one-minute requirement.

When that minute has expired, only allow the player back on when it is appropriate for match control—not when they could immediately influence play because the ball is nearby.

Denying an Obvious Goal-Scoring Opportunity (DOGSO)

There is one significant change.

If you apply advantage following a DOGSO offence and a goal is subsequently scored, no caution is issued for the original DOGSO offence.

Of course, any misconduct such as a reckless challenge or serious foul play should still be sanctioned appropriately.

The DOGSO considerations now also include attackers, although this is unlikely to change decision making significantly.

Practical Advice

Remember your DOGSO considerations:

• Direction.

• Distance.

• Likelihood of control.

• Defenders.

• Attackers.

Always ask yourself whether there was an obvious goal-scoring opportunity.

If you play advantage and the goal is scored, there is no DOGSO card to show. (Be careful with playing advantages on DOGSOs, ask yourself, is the next touch a goal? If the answer is no, give the free kick, don't be a hero!!)

Goalkeeper Control (8-Second Countdown)

The goalkeeper possession procedure has changed again this season.

The escalating sanctions now remain throughout the match:

• 1st offence: Corner kick.

• 2nd offence: Corner kick and warning.

• 3rd offence: Corner kick and yellow card.

• 4th offence: Corner kick and second yellow card (red card).

Practical Advice

Unlike last season, the process does not reset after the goalkeeper receives a caution.

Be proactive and communicate clearly throughout.

If you caution a goalkeeper, make sure they understand that the next offence will result in a second caution and dismissal.

Hopefully, they'll take the hint after the first yellow card!

Be Prepared

These Law changes will undoubtedly generate plenty of questions from players, coaches and spectators during pre-season and throughout the campaign.

Taking the time now to understand both the technical changes and the practical application will help you approach every game with confidence.

Good communication, common sense and proactive management remain some of the strongest tools available to every referee.

We wish all our match officials the very best for the 2026/27 season.