IFAB announced a series of key modifications to football rules that will come into effect at the FIFA Club World Cup 2025. One of the new regulations emphasizes the importance of greater cooperation between captains and referees to instill higher levels of fairness and mutual respect in the game. The goal of these rules is to limit mass protests and ensure a more orderly dialogue between players and referees.
The main modification focused on Rule 12.2 regarding the indirect free kick, where it was established that if a goalkeeper holds the ball for more than eight seconds, a corner kick will be awarded to the opposing team instead of an indirect free kick. This measure aims to speed up the pace of play and avoid excessive delays during the match. The decision was made during IFAB's 139th Annual General Meeting in Belfast.
In addition to this change, other significant modifications to football regulations were announced. For example, Rule 8.2 establishes how play is resumed if the ball is out of the penalty area when interrupted. Additionally, Rule 9.2 introduces an indirect free kick without disciplinary sanction if a team official touches the ball when leaving the field without intending to interfere with play.
Another relevant adjustment is the update of the VAR Protocol, which will allow competitions to decide whether the referee should make a public announcement after a prolonged review. It was also determined that the assistant should position themselves in line with the penalty spot during goal reviews to optimize VAR accuracy. IFAB supported FIFA's initiative to continue testing body cameras on referees in official competitions and will seek new tests of the offside system to promote attacking football.
Regarding communication on the field, it was established that only the captain may address the referee in certain situations to improve interaction and reduce confrontations in the game, promoting respect and fairness in refereeing decisions.
