FIFA has approved a new set of rules during the International Football Association Board (IFAB) meeting last weekend in Wales, which will start being used at the FIFA World Cup this summer, aimed to reduce time wasted by players, specially during substitutions and injuries, and give more control to VAR.
These rules are similar to the eight second rule, in which referees would allow the opposing team a corner kick if the goalkeepers took too long to put the ball in motion. Specifically, now referees will start as five-second countdown if they feel players are taking too long over throw-ins and dead-ball goal kicks. Referees will have to make the countdown visible to warn the player, if they still miss the countdown, the throw-in will be given to the opposing team.
Wasting time in substitutions or even faking injury will be punished. Players will only be given ten seconds to leave the field when they are substituted. If they don't exit the field on time, the new player will have to wait one minute before entering the pitch.
Similarly, to prevent players from asking medical assistance to disrupt the flow of the game, players that ask medical assistance will leave the field for one minute, although exceptions can be made.
Finally, VAR will also be able to review second yellow cards and corner kicks. Giving more power to VAR to correct the referee feels contradictory to what UEFA said about trying to use VAR as less as possible to protect the flow of the game...
Do you agree with these new rules to reduce time wasting and give more control to VAR during FIFA World Cup?