New Season New Laws

As we approach the start of another season it means referees across the globe must learn and apply the law changes introduced by the International Football Association Board (IFAB).

For the 2025/26 season IFAB have made nine changes to the laws of the game. However, there are two changes that are significantly different and will have a significant impact.

Captains only Procedure

One of the most significant changes is the introduction of the captains only procedure. IFAB have now given the green light for competitions to implement the ‘captains only’procedure.

The procedure has been set in motion so there can be a stronger collaboration between referees and team captains.

The procedure’s objective is to prevent referees from being subjected to dissent when they make decisions. It was also created to prevent players running towards, mobbing and surrounding referees.

The procedure outlines that the captain is allowed to approach the referee but it must be in a calm and respectful manner.

If players surround a referee after a key incident the referee can instruct verbally and with gestures not to approach them.

The team captain is then responsible for getting his players away from the referee. If the players don’t move and continue to engage in dissent then the players approaching and surrounding the referee may be cautioned.

The referee also has the ability to delay the restart of play so the captain can speak with their team mates to explain the decision made.

Referees will still interact with players during the game. This helps build mutual respect between the players and the referee. It is important that referees do this as it makes their ability to manage the game far easier with the players if there is trust and mutual respect.

Eight Second goalkeeper change

The second major change to the laws of the game season is goalkeepers now have 8 seconds to release the ball from their arms.

The referee will start the count when the referee is happy that the goalkeeper has control of the ball. IFAB have made it clear that the goalkeeper doesn’t need to be standing when the referee starts to count down.

This is because there have been numerous cases when goalkeepers get hold of the ball they then decide to fall to the ground and stay their for some time without anyone preventing them from standing up.

The referee will count down from eight to six in their head. But from five to zero the referee will raise their hand and use their fingers to count down to avoid the goalkeeper being penalised.

If the referee does reach all the way down to zero then a corner kick will be awarded from the side closest from where the referee penalised the goalkeeper.

According to IFAB the law change was made due to referees not enforcing the law they said:”Referees were not enforcing the Law, and goalkeepers were holding the ball for much longer than six seconds to waste time and change the tempo of the match, especially when their team were winning.”

IFAB also commented on why referees weren’t enforcing the law they said: “Referees were seldom penalising goalkeepers for holding the ball for longer than six seconds,mainly because managing an indirect free kick in the penalty area is very difficult and usually disrupts the rhythm of the game more than the goalkeeper does by holding the ball for too long.”

IFAB underwent trials during the 24/25 season in 400 competitive marches across England,Italy and Malta.

During the trials very few goalkeepers were penalised by referees. Across 179 matches in Malta no goalkeeper was penalised by the referee. Across 160 matches in England and 80 matches in Italy there were five cases when a goalkeeper was penalised.

Surveys were completed from the trial participants.The feedback from goalkeepers, referees and coaches was very positive.

63.7% said the change had a positive impact on the game. 72.5% said the game was faster as a result of the change. 87.6% said the five-second countdown by the referee was helpful.