New football rules in offing, referees to wear body cameras

The International Football Association Board (IFAB) has announced a series new rule in the soccer engagements which include goalkeepers will now be restricted to holding the ball for a maximum of eight seconds, referees to now wear body cameras among others.

Penpushing reports that new rules will be unveil at the 2025 Fédération International Football Association (FIFA) Club World Cup in the United States of America (USA), where they will be implemented for the first time in competitive play.

The new rules added that if the goalkeeper’s limit is exceeded, the opposing team will be awarded a corner kick—replacing the current penalty of an indirect free kick, and the goal is to discourage time-wasting and encourage continuous play.

Penpushing further reports that International Football Association Board (IFAB), explained that this is to eliminate ambiguity during ball drop restarts, and equally clarified that if one team had clear possession when play was stopped and the ball was outside the penalty area, they will retain possession when play resumes.

The rules added that if possession was unclear, the ball will be awarded to the team that last touched it before the stoppage, stressing that these changes—among the most comprehensive reforms in recent years—are designed to enhance the flow of matches, promote fairness, and improve the experience for fans.

Penpushing also reports that the new rules have it that no cards for accidental interference adding that if a coach, substitute, or even a dismissed player accidentally touches the ball outside the field of play, the restart will simply be an indirect free kick to the opposition.

The International Football Association Board (IFAB) in the new rules emphasized that there will be no disciplinary action; a rule designed to reduce over-penalisation for harmless, accidental incidents.

Penpushing reports that the board stated that in an effort to improve transparency, competitions will have the option of allowing referees to verbally explain VAR decisions to the crowd, similar to the practice in the National Football League (NFL).

The International Football Association Board (IFAB), however, said leagues may also choose to keep these communications private, depending on their own regulations, while assistant referees will now position themselves in line with the penalty spot, rather than the goal line, especially when evaluating close offside calls and goal-line decisions.

Penpushing further reports that football board explained that this change is intended to improve alignment with Video Assistant Referee (VAR) technology and enhance overall decision-making accuracy.

The board added that under the new ruling, if a penalty taker accidentally touches the ball with both feet before scoring, the penalty will be retaken rather than the goal being disallowed, explaining that this change follows controversy in matches such as Julián Álvarez’s disallowed goal during Atlético Madrid’s clash with Real Madrid.

Penpushing also reports that the football body said in a further effort to promote respect for match officials, only team captains will be permitted to communicate with referees in designated situations.

The most anticipated innovations is the introduction of referee body cameras, which will be worn during the Club World Cup, while this first-of-its-kind experiment aims to provide fans with an immersive, real-time view from the referee’s perspective, enhancing transparency and deepening understanding of on-field decisions.

Penpushing reports that with these new rules and technological innovations debuting at the Fédération International Football Association (FIFA) Club World Cup in the United States of America (USA), the global football community will be watching closely to see how the beautiful game continues to evolve.

The updates touch on multiple facets of the sport, from goalkeeper behaviour and assistant referee positioning to greater transparency in Video Assistant Referee (VAR) decisions and innovations aimed at improving the interaction between players and officials.

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