2026/27 season changes · In force since 1 July 2026. Where they differ from the summary below, these changes take precedence.
- Technology to support the referee: Competitions may use technology to help the referee make or change decisions related to the VAR protocol, ball in play (automated goal-line technology) and offside (semi-automated offside technology).
- Advantage after an incorrect restart: It is clarified that the referee may apply advantage if an incorrect restart (free kick, throw-in, etc.) is taken and the ball is in play, when the opponents benefit by regaining possession.
- Treated injured player must stay off for one minute: Save for certain exceptions, a player who receives medical treatment on the field or whose injury stops play must leave and remain off until one minute after the restart. Exceptions include the goalkeeper.
- Body cameras for match officials: Competitions may provide body cameras to referees, assistant referees and fourth officials. The organiser owns and controls the footage; any microphones may not be used to broadcast VAR communications.
- New VAR-reviewable incidents: The VAR may review: a red card resulting from a clearly incorrect second yellow; mistaken identity (yellow or red shown to the wrong player); and, optionally for competitions, a clearly incorrect corner kick award.
- Editorial: referee signals: Changes to the signal illustrations: a new throw-in signal is added, the penalty signal now shows the referee blowing the whistle, and the corner-kick signal now shows the referee not blowing it.
- Editorial: VAR Handbook: Editorial naming change: references to the VAR Implementation Assistance and Approval Programme (IAAP) are replaced by the FIFA VAR Handbook.
- Glossary: advantage: Updated definition of advantage: the referee allows play to continue after an offence or an incorrect restart while the ball is in play, when this benefits the team opposing the offender.
Authority
The referee controls the match in cooperation with the other match officials. Authority begins on entering the field of play for the inspection and ends when leaving the field after the final whistle.
Final decisions
Decisions regarding facts connected with play are final. The referee may only change a decision on realising it is incorrect or, at their discretion, on the advice of another official, provided play has not restarted.
Advantage
The referee may allow play to continue when an offence occurs if the offending team does not benefit. If the advantage does not materialise within a few seconds, the original offence is penalised.
Injuries
Play is only stopped for an injury the referee considers serious. For a slight injury, play continues until the ball is out of play.
Disciplinary powers
The referee penalises the most serious offence when several occur at once. Cards may be shown from entering the field until leaving it at the end, including half-time.
Powers and duties of the referee
- Enforces the Laws of the Game and controls the match together with the other match officials.
- Acts as timekeeper, keeps a record of the match and sends the competition a match report with disciplinary action and any other incidents.
- Supervises and indicates every restart of play.
- Stops, suspends or abandons the match for offences or outside interference, such as failing floodlights, objects thrown by spectators or a spectator entering the field.
- Makes sure a bleeding player leaves the field, and that only authorised people enter it.
- Checks that the ball (Law 2) and the players' equipment (Law 4) meet the Laws.
- Takes action against team officials who fail to act responsibly, including yellow and red cards.
- Acts on the advice of the other match officials about incidents the referee has not seen.
When can the referee change a decision?
A decision can be changed while play has not restarted. Once play restarts, or once the referee signals the end of a half (or the match) and leaves the field, or abandons the match, the restart decision stands. The change can come from the referee realising the error or, at the referee's discretion, from another match official or the VAR.
The referee is not held liable for injuries, damage or losses arising from decisions taken in good faith under the Laws of the Game.
Referee signals in Law 5
- Direct free kick: arm pointing in the direction of the kick.
- Indirect free kick: arm raised above the head, kept up until the kick is taken and the ball touches another player or goes out of play.
- Advantage: both arms extended forward.
- Penalty kick: pointing to the penalty mark; from 2026/27 the illustration shows the referee blowing the whistle.
- Corner kick, goal kick and throw-in: arm pointing to the corner arc, the goal area or the direction of the throw-in (a throw-in signal is new in 2026/27).
Quick check: Law 5 in five questions
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The referee plays advantage, but the attacking team loses the ball two seconds later. What now?
The referee goes back and penalises the original offence: advantage that does not materialise at that moment or within a few seconds is called back.
Play has restarted with a throw-in. Can the referee now change the free-kick decision that came before it?
No. Once play has restarted, the previous restart decision can no longer be changed.
A player is slightly injured in a tackle. Must the referee stop play?
No. Play continues until the ball is out of play; the referee stops play only for a serious injury.
A player is bleeding. Can they stay on the field?
No. The player must leave and may return only on the referee's signal once the bleeding has stopped.
Can the referee show a red card at half-time in the dressing-room tunnel?
Yes. Disciplinary powers last from entering the field for the pre-match inspection until leaving it after the match, half-time included.
Law 5: frequently asked questions
What is Law 5 in football?
Law 5 of the IFAB Laws of the Game covers the referee: their authority to enforce the Laws, their powers and duties, how advantage works, when play is stopped for injuries, the referee's disciplinary powers and the official signals.
Are the referee's decisions final?
Yes. Decisions on facts connected with play, including whether a goal is scored and the result of the match, are final. The referee may change a decision only if play has not restarted and the half or match has not ended.
Can the referee show cards to coaches and team officials?
Yes. The referee can caution (yellow card) or send off (red card) team officials who act irresponsibly. If the offender cannot be identified, the senior coach in the technical area receives the sanction.
How does the advantage rule work?
The referee allows play to continue when the non-offending team benefits. If the expected advantage does not happen at that moment or within a few seconds, the referee penalises the original offence. A caution or sending-off can still be given when the ball next goes out of play.
When must the referee stop play for an injury?
Only when the referee judges the injury to be serious. For a slight injury play continues until the ball is out of play. In 2026/27 a treated player must, with some exceptions such as the goalkeeper, stay off until one minute after play restarts.
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