Photo: Pete Nowakowski from Sydney, Australia / CC BY 2.0 / Wikimedia Commons
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The Premier League has confirmed a series of new laws introduced by IFAB that will apply from the 2026/27 season, with the campaign opening on Sunday 23 August when Bournemouth visit the Etihad Stadium.
Players who receive on-field injury treatment or assessment will now be required to leave the pitch for at least one minute, up from the 30 seconds previously in use.
A five-second countdown will be applied to throw-ins and goal-kicks to deter time-wasting. If the limit is exceeded at a throw-in, possession is awarded to the opposing team; at a goal-kick, the opponents receive a corner.
Substituted players will face a 10-second limit to leave the field. Should that limit be exceeded, the incoming substitute must wait until the first stoppage after one minute has elapsed before entering.
VAR will now be used to review second yellow cards that result in a red card, applying only to confirmed second yellows rather than potential ones.
A trial rule covering goalkeeper tactical timeouts will also run for the 2026/27 season. If play is stopped for a goalkeeper injury, the manager must immediately nominate an outfield player to leave the pitch, with that player required to remain off for at least one minute after the restart.
The Premier League confirmed it will not adopt several optional IFAB laws, including VAR reviews of incorrectly awarded corners, hydration breaks, the red-card protocol around players covering their mouths, and the reversal of yellow cards for diving.