Home » Blog » New Laws within International Football

New Laws within International Football

By /

Authored By: Natalia Monika Loboda

University of law

The International Football Association Board (IFAB), the autonomous entity governing the Laws of the Game, has implemented various rule modifications for the 2025/26 season, intended to enhance fairness, discipline, and efficiency in global football. Significant modifications encompass the globally endorsed “captains only” strategy, which restricts referee contact predominantly to team captains to mitigate discontent and enhance player conduct. The new eight-second rule for goalkeepers addresses time-wasting, superseding the inadequately enforced six-second regulation and implementing clearer penalties. The procedures for dropped balls have been elucidated to avert inequitable restarts, especially in proximity to penalty areas. Law 14 has been revised to mandate the retaking of inadvertent double-touch penalties that result in goals, so promoting enhanced fairness. Further modifications encompass more explicit fines for unintentional interference and VAR-exclusive oversight of custodian encroachment during penalty kicks. These reforms seek to modernise the sport, mitigate conflict, and provide a more uniform and equitable worldwide footballing landscape.

International football has continuously evolved since the 19th century; prior to the establishment of the Football Association on October 26, 1863,[1] there were no standardised rules. Numerous regulations and organisations have since emerged within the football domain, originating in the UK. Today, football is a global sport, necessitating the formation of the IFAB to ensure uniformity in gameplay worldwide. This is significant to the article as it underscores the importance of football, emphasising that all individuals are permitted to participate equitably and enjoy the game without complications. This principle applies not only to the players but to everyone involved during the 90 minutes of play (and any additional time). The IFAB was established in 1938 and was previously affiliated with FIFA since 1913. In 2014, it was registered as an independent body[2], currently functioning globally to promote the contemporary version of football and to involve participants from throughout the world. This article contends that the progression of football’s regulations under IFAB’s oversight is crucial for maintaining justice, consistency, and enjoyment in contemporary international competition, illustrating how standardised rules facilitate equitable and safe participation for all players globally.

The current laws that are now in place are:

‘Captains Only’ approach:  

When the new approach came, there was a rule was originally introduced in 2023. It was a whole new behaviour charter[3], but they have recently updated it with more information, it is within law 3 in 2025, this is within the players section and it is introduced internationally. Before it was only within the uk and it was within the ‘Love football. Protect the game’[4] campaign. This led to much more better behaviour. The number of players who approached the referee was high, and the situation was often violent. For example, Ryan Golding within the Kent County League was suspended for 133 days because he sent threats towards the referee.[5]. However, there were fewer instances of significant conflicts and individuals impeding the match officials in the previous season than in 2022/23.[6] This year the new rule “captain only” states that the captain only allowed to approach the referee and when they do they must always interact with a safe manner, this change recognises the relationship between the referee and captain, of course players are still allowed to talk to the referee but the main thing to take away from here is that the referee can talk to the to the captain for further explanations and important decisions. This will cause less disruption within the game and the captains will be fully responsible for helping directly team-mates from the referee[7]

‘Eight-second rule’ for goalkeepers:

This was firstly trialed within the 2024/2025 season in PL2 and Italy[8][9], the same rules that that hasn’t been changed within this trial is, that there is still a 8 second limit with the goalkeeper with their hands and arms, the control with the goalkeeper like holding the ball, ect is still the same, the referees role which where the control begins and showing a visually showing 5 seconds with a raised hand, the restart is where when the goalkeeper exceeds more than 8 seconds, a corner kick will be awarded to the opposing team and will be the nearest corner and lastly if an attacker prevents pressure during the count an indirect free kick will be awarded against the attacker.[10] The only difference is that they changed the offences, in PL2 and Italy their first offence would be a warning and any other offence after that would result to a yellow card[11] within the new rule it states that from the first offence you will get a corner kick and after that it’s what PL2 did. The reason why they have implemented this rule is because, before it was a six second rule within law 12.2[12] , however this was rarely implemented, Patrick Nelson has described the six-second rule, and the failure to enforce it, had “been a bane of many people’s lives for quite some time”.[13]  This is a better way towards to the football community internationally.

Dropped ball restarts:

The dropped ball method for the 2025/26 season has been elucidated under Law 8 (The Start and Restart of Play) to rectify anomalies observed in the previous season’s implementation. When play is halted and the ball is either in the penalty area or last touched within it, the referee resumes play by dropping the ball to the defending team’s custodian within their penalty area; this supersedes the former rule that mandated a dropped ball at the stoppage location, irrespective of its proximity to the penalty area, which occasionally resulted in disputed restarts near the goal[14] [15].In all instances where play is interrupted with the ball outside the penalty area, the referee shall drop the ball at the location where it last made contact with a player, an external agent, or a match official, granting it to the team that most recently possessed, or would have reasonably acquired, possession — a continuation of the previous season’s methodology, articulated with greater clarity to mitigate ambiguity in ascertaining rightful possession[16] [17]. All remaining players from both sides must maintain a distance of at least 4 meters (4.5 yards) until the ball makes contact with the ground, at which moment it is considered in play. The ball must be retaken if it touches a player prior to hitting the ground or if it exits the field without reaching a player.[18] Furthermore, if the dropped ball crosses the goal line without contacting a minimum of two players, play is resumed with a goal kick if it enters the opposing team’s goal, or a corner kick if it enters the team’s own goal—rules maintained from the previous season to prevent the dropped ball from unjustly determining a goal.[19]The adjustment allowing the custodian to receive a dropped ball in penalty area situations constitutes the most substantial alteration from last year’s regulations, enhancing fairness and minimising disagreements in critical areas of play.[20]

Double-touch penalties: 

IFAB has elucidated Law 14[21] to resolve instances of inadvertent double-touch penalties, subsequent to the controversy during Atletico Madrid’s Champions League encounter versus Real Madrid in March 2025. During that occasion, Julian Alvarez lost his footing while executing a penalty in a shootout and inadvertently made contact with the ball twice, resulting in the goal being nullified according to the prevailing rule that forbids a kicker from striking the ball again prior to it contacting another player[22]. Following UEFA’s inquiry into the equity of enforcing this regulation on evidently unintended occurrences, IFAB conceded that Law 14[23] was mostly designed to penalise intentional double touches. Consequently, IFAB has specified that in the event of an inadvertent double-touch penalty leading to a goal, the kick must be retaken instead of being disallowed. If the penalty is unsuccessful, play will resume with an indirect free kick awarded to the defending club, or it will be noted as a miss in a penalty shootout. The clarification aims to provide equity between the kicker and the custodian and now it is within the 2025/2026 laws and is within the official handbook of the laws of the game.[24]

Inadvertent interference: 

Unfortunately, I am unfamiliar with this term. For those unaware, it pertains to Law 9 of the IFAB regulations, which I interpret as a measure to address a ‘common sense’ issue where referees were compelled to issue red cards or penalties for innocuous activities. The previous year’s handbook indicated that if a substitute or manager made contact with the ball while it remained on the pitch, even by a slight margin, it constituted “illegal interference,” necessitating a Direct Free Kick (or penalty) and a Red Card. The new rule within the 2025/2026 year is that when a non-active participant—such as a team official, substitute, substituted player, sent-off player, or a player who has temporarily exited the field—interacts with the ball while it is in play, the referee is required to evaluate the nature of such interaction. If the ball was evidently leaving the field of play and the contact was inadvertent and did not adversely impact the game, the appropriate restart is an indirect free kick, with no disciplinary measures imposed. Nonetheless, when the involvement is deliberate, evident, or significantly impacts the game, the offence is regarded with greater severity. In such instances, a straight free kick or penalty kick is granted, and if the individual accountable is a manager, head coach, or other technical staff member, they must be ejected with a red card. This section delineates a clear distinction between inadvertent contact and intentional interference. The law emphasises the effect on play rather than the simple occurrence of contact with the ball. When no unjust advantage is acquired and the ball is already exiting the field, the penalty is modest. Conversely, deliberate or manipulative involvement compromises the integrity of the game, hence necessitating a more stringent restart and punitive measures.

Assistant referees’ positioning at penalty kicks:

Law 6[25] has been amended from the previous year; the first subheading of bullet point 4 states that the custodian may advance off the goal line prior to the ball being struck. If the ball crosses the line, the assistant referee, if designated, adopts a position in alignment with the penalty mark. The recent modification stipulates that the VAR will exclusively oversee custodian encroachment during penalty kicks, while the assistant referee will remain on the touchline. This change is advantageous as the VAR has access to more cameras and perspectives than the assistant referee.[26]

Conclusion:

The IFAB made big changes to the Laws of the Game internationally in 2025/26. These changes are a big step forward in the ongoing growth of football from around the world. This article talks about important changes, the “captains only” approach was the main talked one, and the new modified rules such as the eight-second rule for goalkeepers, clearer dropped-ball procedures, new penalties for accidental double-touch penalties, clearer definitions of accidental interference, and VAR-led monitoring of goalkeeper encroachment. These changes show IFAB’s commitment and dedication to make the game more fair. Each change directly addresses ongoing issues in modern gameplay, such as dissatisfaction with officials, wasting time, unclear restarts, and overly strict interpretations of the Laws that have led to controversial decisions in the past.

The importance of these changes comes from the fact that they affect people all over the world. Because football is now played and watched all over the world, the rules should be the same in order to keep the culture alive. IFAB protects match officials and makes the game better for players, coaches, and fans by making rules clearer and penalties more appropriate. These changes make sure that skill and competitiveness, not confusion or old rules, determine the outcome of a game. This keeps the basic ideas of fairness and respect in football.

In the end, IFAB’s constant changes to the Laws of the Game show how important it is to change old traditions to meet modern needs. Football can’t stay the same in a world where sports and technology are changing quickly. The law changes for 2025/26 show how planned changes can keep the heart of the game while fixing its problems in the modern world. As football grows around the world, the question is not whether the Laws should change, but how future changes can best balance new ideas with the rules that have defined the game for more than a hundred years.

Bibliography (OSCOLA)

Primary Law Sources

United Kingdom Legislation

Official Football Governing Body Publications (Primary/Official)

IFAB / Laws of the Game

The Football Association (FA)

Premier League

Media, Commentary, and Analysis

Sports News & Analysis

[1] Nachspielzeiten, ‘The development of football rules and laws’ https://nachspielzeiten.de/the-development-of-football-rules-and-laws/#:~:text=Foundation%20of%20the%20Football%20Association,of%20Sheffield%20FC%201862%2D1867

[2] International Football Association Board (IFAB), ‘Background’ https://www.theifab.com/background/

[3] International Football Association Board (IFAB), Laws of the Game 2023/24 (IFAB 2023) Law 8, Dropped Ball, pp 68–69 https://downloads.theifab.com/downloads/laws-of-the-game-2023-24?l=en

[4] The Football Association (The FA), ‘Love Football. Protect the Game campaign’ (31 July 2023) https://www.thefa.com/news/2023/jul/31/love-football-protect-the-game-campaign-20233107

[5] ‘Halls AFC player Ryan Golding suspended after referee felt threatened’ (Kent Online, 21 December 2022) https://www.kentonline.co.uk/dartford/sport/footballer-banned-after-referee-frightened-for-his-safety-279098/

[6]  Premier League, What’s new in the 2025/26 season: IFAB laws and Premier League football principles (Premier League, 2025), https://www.premierleague.com/en/news/4373884

[7]  Premier League, What’s new in the 2025/26 season: IFAB laws and Premier League football principles (Premier League, 2025), https://www.premierleague.com/en/news/4373884

[8] We Ain’t Got No History, ‘IFAB approve new rule to try to limit time‑wasting by goalkeepers’ (2 March 2025) https://weaintgotnohistory.sbnation.com/2025/3/2/24376006/ifab-approve-new-rule-to-try-to-limit-time-wasting-by-goalkeepers

[9] Premier League, IFAB trial: Goalkeeper holding the ball for too long (26 February 2025) https://www.premierleague.com/en/news/407919

[10] Premier League, IFAB trial: Goalkeeper holding the ball for too long (26 February 2025) https://www.premierleague.com/en/news/4079191

[11] Premier League, IFAB trial: Goalkeeper holding the ball for too long (26 February 2025) https://www.premierleague.com/en/news/4079191

[12] International Football Association Board (IFAB), Laws of the Game 2023/24 (IFAB 2023) Law 12.2, Controlling the Ball with Hands/Arms (six‑second rule) pp 102–103 https://downloads.theifab.com/downloads/laws-of-the-game-2023-24?l=en

[13] Sky Sports, Eight‑second rule to reduce time‑wasting by goalkeepers approved for next season (6 March 2025) https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11095/13321150/eight-second-rule-to-reduce-time-wasting-by-goalkeepers-approved-for-next-season

[14] International Football Association Board (IFAB), Laws of the Game 2025/26 (IFAB 2025), Law 8, Dropped Ball, pp 70–71, https://downloads.theifab.com/downloads/laws-of-the-game-2025-26-double-pages?l=en

[15] International Football Association Board (IFAB), Laws of the Game 2024/25 (IFAB 2024), Law 8, Dropped Ball, pp 68–69, https://downloads.theifab.com/downloads/laws-of-the-game-2024-25?l=en

[16] International Football Association Board (IFAB), Laws of the Game 2025/26 (IFAB 2025), Law 8, Start and Restart of Play, p 70, https://downloads.theifab.com/downloads/laws-of-the-game-2025-26-double-pages?l=en

[17] International Football Association Board (IFAB), Laws of the Game 2024/25 (IFAB 2024), Law 8, Dropped Ball, p 68, https://downloads.theifab.com/downloads/laws-of-the-game-2024-25?l=en

[18] International Football Association Board (IFAB), Laws of the Game 2025/26 (IFAB 2025), Law 8, Offences and Sanctions, p 71, https://downloads.theifab.com/downloads/laws-of-the-game-2025-26-double-pages?l=en

[19] International Football Association Board (IFAB), Laws of the Game 2025/26 (IFAB 2025), Law 8, pp 71–72, https://downloads.theifab.com/downloads/laws-of-the-game-2025-26-double-pages?l=en

[20] Premier League, What’s new in the 2025/26 season: IFAB laws and Premier League football principles (Premier League, 2025), https://www.premierleague.com/en/news/4373884

[21] International Football Association Board (IFAB), Laws of the Game 2023/24 (IFAB 2023) Law 14, The Penalty Kick, p 119 https://downloads.theifab.com/downloads/laws-of-the-game-2023-24?l=en

[22] BBC Sport, ‘Accidental “double‑touch” penalties must be retaken if scored, says IFAB’ (3 June 2025) https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/ce80j3z34jno

[23] International Football Association Board (IFAB), Laws of the Game 2023/24 (IFAB 2023) Law 14, The Penalty Kick, p 119 https://downloads.theifab.com/downloads/laws-of-the-game-2023-24?l=en

[24] International Football Association Board (IFAB), Laws of the Game 2025/26 (IFAB 2025) Law 14, The Penalty Kick, p 129 https://downloads.theifab.com/downloads/laws-of-the-game-2025-26-double-pages?l=en

[25] International Football Association Board (IFAB), Laws of the Game 2023/24 (IFAB 2023) Law 8, The Start and Restart of Play, p 70 https://downloads.theifab.com/downloads/laws-of-the-game-2023-24?l=en

[26]  Premier League, What’s new in the 2025/26 season: IFAB laws and Premier League football principles (Premier League, 2025), https://www.premierleague.com/en/news/4373884

Related Posts

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Scroll to Top