Serie A introduces new VAR rules for corners and hand‑covers in 2026‑27 season

The Italian Serie A has released new referee directives for the 2026‑27 season. The league will allow VAR to intervene on clearly incorrect corner kicks, provided the review is completed before the ball is taken. It also permits the VAR to overturn a second yellow card deemed excessive, similar to the Kalulu‑Bastoni case.

Players covering their mouth with a hand will no longer receive an automatic red card; the offence may be cautioned with a yellow instead. Leaving the pitch in protest will be penalised with a yellow unless the player refuses to return, which would merit a red. Additional timing rules remain unchanged: five seconds for a goalkeeper’s distribution, ten seconds for a substitution after the fourth official signals, and a one‑minute medical leave for out‑field players. The changes bring Serie A’s interpretation closer to UEFA guidelines, diverging from the stricter FIFA stance used at the World Cup.