Tim Ream became the oldest USMNT player at a World Cup and the first to benefit from the 'mistaken identity' rule change, where a yellow card was overturned and issued to an opponent for simulation.
Major League Soccer is exploring the possibility of reintroducing a stopped clock system, similar to those used in basketball and American football, in an effort to combat gamesmanship and improve fan understanding. The league has held preliminary discussions with the International Football Association Board (IFAB) about potential trials.
Uefa has decided against introducing automatic red cards for players who cover their mouths when confronting opponents or leave the pitch in protest at refereeing decisions. The new rules, approved by Ifab last month at Fifa’s prompting and set to take effect on 1 June, will apply at the World Cup but not in Uefa club competitions.
VAR will rule on corners and second yellows at World CupPGMO fears change will put more pressure on officialsThe Premier League is to reject widening the scope of VAR next season after talks with the refereeing body Professional Game Match Officials (PGMO). Under a regulation change approved by the International Football Association Board (Ifab) in February, the video assistant referee will be permitted to rule on the award of corners and second yellow cards from next month, with referees to use the powers at the World Cup after a request from Fifa.Ifab has made the new law discretionary, however, allowing leagues and competitions to decide whether to adopt it. The Premier League’s final decision will be made by the clubs at their annual general meeting next month, but PGMO has advised against extending the use of VAR. Continue reading...
IFAB unanimously approved a new rule at its Vancouver meeting penalizing players with a red card for covering their mouths during confrontations. The rule, proposed by FIFA after Real Madrid's Vinícius Júnior accused Benfica's Gianluca Prestianni of making a racially charged insult while covering his mouth, will take effect at the World Cup on June 11. UEFA previously banned Prestianni for six games for what it called homophobic abuse.
IFAB has approved new regulations for the 2026 World Cup that will see players receive automatic red cards for covering their mouths when confronting opponents or leaving the pitch in protest at refereeing decisions. The rules follow controversies including the 2026 Africa Cup of Nations final where Senegal players walked off after a penalty decision, and February's incident involving Real Madrid's Vinícius Jr accusing Benfica's Gianluca Prestianni of racist abuse while covering his mouth.
