Canadian forward Jonathan David and his teammates will see some rule tweaks and adaptations at the coming World Cup that are aimed to pick up the pace of play.GEOFF ROBINS/AFP/Getty Images
While the FIFA World Cup is bigger than ever, with 48 teams, this year’s edition comes with a push to minimize delays during its 104 matches.
The men’s soccer showcase, which runs June 11 to July 19 in Canada, Mexico and the U.S., will be the first major tournament to feature recent rules amendments approved by the International Football Association Board (IFAB).
Other ad hoc changes are also being instituted.
Officials will look to halt the trend of goalkeepers going down and asking for treatment, so as to allow teammates an opportunity to visit with their coach on the sideline.
While the IFAB has not moved to address the issue via the laws of the game, coaches of all 48 World Cup teams were told during a recent workshop that officials will not allow players to go to the sideline when a goalkeeper goes down.
Cathal Kelly: Cult treatment of Marsch highlights Canada's neophyte standing in global soccer
“The goalkeeper has the right to be injured. But the players do not have the right to leave the play to have a sort of timeout with their respective coaches,” said Pierluigi Collina, FIFA chief refereeing officer and chairman of the FIFA Referees Committee.
It was a strategy used by many, including former Canada coaches John Herdman and Bev Priestman.
Teams will still get a chance to discuss strategy midgame thanks to hydration breaks. Because of the expected heat during the tournament, games will feature a three-minute hydration break in the middle of each half.
Video assistant referees are also going to get more leeway to intervene in certain instances, Collina said.
Video assistant referees are going to get more leeway to intervene in certain instances in games at this year's World Cup. Corner kicks will factor into that, with FIFA trying to ensure the proper calls are made at all times.Chris Young/The Canadian Press
Under the current rules of the game, VAR cannot step in when the ball is not in play. But Collina cited examples when a defending player was fouled before a corner kick was taken, allowing another attacker an advantage that leads to a goal.
“We think that is very unfair that a goal is given when the defender is prevented from being able to defend,” Collina told a media briefing.
He says steps are in place to cover such cases involving corners at the tournament.
A rule previously introduced to prevent goalkeepers from hanging onto the ball for too long has been tweaked and extended to goal kicks and throw-ins.
Referees can now initiate a five-second visual countdown to speed up such plays. If the ball is not in play at the end of the countdown, a delayed goal kick will result in a corner kick to the opposing team or the throw-in will be awarded to the opposing team.
“We expect players to respect the [time] limit,” said Collina.
In other changes:
- A player being substituted must leave the pitch within 10 seconds, or else their replacement will not be allowed on to the field until the first stoppage after a minute of play has elapsed. There will be some leniency in cases when the player exiting is injured. And when there are multiple changes at the same time, the 10-second rule comes into effect after each substitution.
- Players who receive treatment on the pitch or whose injury delays the game must leave the field for one minute after play resumes. There are exceptions, including cases of injured goalkeepers, severe injury and collisions involving several players.
- The video assistant referee can now step in cases of red cards resulting from an incorrectly awarded second yellow card or in cases of mistaken identity – when the wrong player is shown a card.
- VAR can also intervene in cases of an incorrectly awarded corner kick, providing it doesn’t delay the restart. But it only affects corner kicks that should be goal kicks and not the reverse. “We think that it’s important that a goal is not scored from [a] corner kick wrongly given,” said Collina.
- Players seen covering their mouth “in a confrontational situation” with an opponent now face a possible red card. The key word is “confrontational.” Collina says players can continue to cover their mouth when chatting with others in a “friendly conversation.”
- A player leaving the pitch to protest an official’s decision may also be subject to ejection. The same sanction also applies to a team official who “incites or encourages” players to leave the field.
SL Benfica's Gianluca Prestianni hides his mouth while arguing with Real Madrid's Vinicius Jr. at a UEFA Champions League match in February. Players seen covering their mouth 'in a confrontational situation' with an opponent can now face a possible red card at the World Cup.PATRICIA DE MELO MOREIRA/AFP/Getty Images
The law changes, some of which were first announced in April, follow a pair of recent high-profile incidents.
Following a UEFA investigation, Benfica winger Gianluca Prestianni was banned six matches – three of which were suspended – after being found guilty of homophobic behaviour during a Champions League game in February. The Argentina international was sanctioned after raising his shirt to cover his mouth while speaking to Real Madrid’s Vinicius Jr.
The Africa Cup of Nations final in January was disrupted when Senegal left the field and returned to the changing rooms to protest a penalty awarded to Morocco. When the players eventually returned to the field, Morocco missed the penalty and Senegal went on to win 1-0.
The Confederation of African Football subsequently stripped Senegal of the title and awarded Morocco a 3-0 win.