The Premier League has confirmed a series of new measures for the 2026/27 season aimed at reducing time-wasting, limiting unnecessary stoppages and improving the flow of matches, with new protocols covering injuries, restarts, substitutions and VAR decisions.
Under the new rules, players who receive on-field treatment or assessment for an injury that causes play to stop will generally be required to leave the pitch and remain off it for at least one minute after play resumes, up from the previous 30-second Premier League provision.
Referees will also introduce a five-second visual countdown when a team is clearly delaying a throw-in or goal-kick. If the restart is not taken before the countdown expires, possession will change for a throw-in, while a delayed goal-kick will result in a corner kick for the opposition.
Substituted players will now have 10 seconds to leave the field after the substitution is signalled. If they fail to do so, the replacement cannot enter until the first stoppage after one minute of playing time has elapsed following the restart. Exceptions apply where injury or safety concerns prevent the player from leaving within the allotted time.
Another significant change concerns VAR. For the first time under the revised Laws of the Game, VAR may review a clearly incorrect second yellow card that results in a red card. The intervention is limited to cases involving an actual second caution leading to the dismissal.
The Premier League will also trial a new measure targeting potential tactical stoppages involving goalkeepers. If play is stopped because of a goalkeeper injury, the manager will normally have to nominate an outfield player to leave the pitch for at least one minute after the restart. The trial includes exceptions for certain genuine injury situations, including a foul on the goalkeeper requiring immediate treatment, collisions involving the goalkeeper and an outfield player, and bleeding.
The changes form part of a broader IFAB effort to increase effective playing time and reduce unnecessary disruption, rather than being rules created exclusively by the Premier League. The 2026/27 Laws of the Game were approved by the International Football Association Board and came into effect on 1 July 2026.
The Premier League’s 2026/27 campaign begins on 21 August 2026, meaning the new measures will be in operation from the opening round of fixtures.
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