Eintracht Frankfurt faces new football rules to curb time‑wasting

Starting with the new season, a suite of rule changes aimed at speeding up play will apply in the Bundesliga and other competitions. Goalkeepers may keep the ball for only eight seconds, and referees will now count down five seconds when a team delays throw‑ins or goal kicks; if the ball is still not in play, possession switches to the opponent.

Players who receive medical treatment must leave the field and can only re‑enter after at least one minute, with exceptions for head or serious injuries. The VAR will also be permitted to review incidents that lead to a second yellow card and a resulting red. Substitutions are tightened: the exiting player has ten seconds to leave, and the incoming player may only join after the next stoppage and a one‑minute wait. The reforms aim to reduce deliberate delays and improve match flow, with further adjustments under discussion after the 2026 World Cup. The first high‑profile incident under the new rules was Paraguay’s Miguel Almirón receiving a red card for a specific gesture at the tournament.