UEFA announces new refereeing rules and VAR protocols

UEFA has announced significant updates to its refereeing guidelines for upcoming European competitions, including the Champions League, Europa League, and Conference League. Roberto Rosetti, UEFA's refereeing chief, presented these changes in Monte Carlo to ensure greater consistency and reduce subjective interpretations.

A major change involves handball rules in the penalty area. Following a controversial incident involving Marc Pubill during a match between Barcelona and Atletico Madrid, UEFA has ruled that any intentional handball while the ball is in play will result in a penalty, regardless of whether a player is in the immediate vicinity.

Other key updates include:

• VAR usage: Officials are instructed to seek “zero errors” and prioritize on-field decision-making. VAR will be used for clear and evident errors and can now intervene for identity errors regarding a second yellow card, but will not be used for general reviews of first yellow cards.

• Player conduct: The “Vinicius law” has been modified; players covering their mouths to communicate with opponents will no longer face automatic red cards, though they may receive a yellow card for unsporting behavior.

• Match tempo: To prevent time-wasting, strict limits are being introduced for substitutions (10 seconds for a player to exit) and restarts, such as throw-ins and goal kicks, to maintain the flow of the game.