The Assembly 139 of the IFAB, the maximum world arbitration agency dependent on FIFA, has determined the changes to be introduced from the next season. One of the key decisions made during the meeting in Belfast is that the change in the offside rule will remain under study. Meanwhile, goalkeepers will be closely monitored to prevent time-wasting, and VAR decisions will be made public.
If a goalkeeper holds the ball for more than 8 seconds, the opposing team will be awarded a corner kick instead of an indirect free kick, as was previously the case. To implement this rule, referees will use a 5-second countdown with their hands. This change aims to speed up the game and prevent goalkeepers from unnecessarily delaying play.
In relation to Law 3.10, which pertains to team captains, new guidelines have been introduced to specify situations where only the captain can approach the referee. The IFAB believes that increased cooperation and communication between captains and referees can help promote mutual respect and fairness in the game. This approach was successfully tested in several competitions last year and is expected to reduce verbal and physical confrontations.
Another significant change concerns the neutral ball drop. If the ball is outside the penalty area when the game is stopped, it will be dropped for the team that had possession or would have had possession if the referee is clear; otherwise, it will be dropped for the team that last touched the ball. The ball will be dropped at the location where the game was stopped.
Rule 9.2, which deals with the ball in play, has also been modified. If a team official, substitute, replaced or expelled player, or a player who is temporarily off the pitch touches the ball without intending to interfere unfairly, an indirect free kick will be awarded without disciplinary action.
Changes in the 2025 Club World Cup
Competitions now have the option to allow referees to make announcements after a VAR review or prolonged verification. The new rules will come into effect in the FIFA 2025 Club World Cup, which begins on June 14, 2025. However, competitions that start before July 1, 2025, can choose to implement the new rules earlier or delay their implementation until the start of the next competition.
Body Cameras in the Collegiate
The IFAB has supported FIFA’s commitment to testing body cameras used by referees in FIFA competitions. This decision comes after positive feedback from competitions where referees were allowed to use body cameras for training and education purposes. FIFA plans to implement body cameras in the next Club World Cup as part of the live broadcast of matches. The successful use of body cameras at the grassroots level in England will also be tested and promoted further due to its positive impact on player behavior.
The ‘Wenger Law’
The IFAB has decided to proactively seek competitions to conduct additional offside tests with the aim of promoting attacking football and encouraging scoring opportunities while maintaining the sport’s attractiveness. FIFA will conduct these tests in some upcoming competitions, and the ‘Wenger Law’ remains under consideration. Additionally, FIFA will extend tests for a football support system that uses a small number of cameras, which has shown positive results in several FIFA competitions in 2024. This system allows coaches to challenge decisions using a ‘Challenger’ feature.