UEFA tightens red card and VAR rules as referees regain control

UEFA is introducing stricter refereeing measures for the new European season, with changes to VAR, red cards and time-wasting rules designed to put match officials back at the centre of decision-making.

UEFA refereeing chief Roberto Rosetti said the governing body wants to reduce unnecessary technological interference and give referees greater authority to manage matches.

“We want to try to come back a little bit and to put the referees again at the centre,” Rosetti said, according to the BBC.

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VAR interventions to be reduced

Under UEFA’s approach, VAR will be restricted primarily to clear errors rather than being used to routinely review marginal incidents or second-guess decisions made by referees on the pitch.

The move reflects UEFA’s desire to preserve the authority of on-field officials while limiting interruptions that can affect the flow of matches.

VAR will continue to be available for major incidents, but referees are expected to retain greater control over decisions that fall within their judgement.

New measures target time-wasting

UEFA is also introducing stricter measures to tackle deliberate delays.

Goalkeepers will have 10 seconds to release the ball after gaining possession with their hands. If they exceed the limit, the opposing team will be awarded a corner.

The rules also target substitutions. Players leaving the field must do so within 10 seconds. If they fail to meet the requirement, their replacement will have to wait an additional minute before entering.

Players who leave the pitch for treatment will face a similar restriction. After receiving medical attention on the field, they will have to wait one minute before returning to play.

UEFA believes the measures will reduce stoppages and improve the continuity of matches.

No automatic red card for covering mouth

UEFA will also take a different approach to the so-called “Vinicius Law”, which has attracted attention over incidents involving players covering their mouths while speaking.

Such incidents will not automatically result in a red card in UEFA competitions.

Depending on the circumstances, a player could instead receive a yellow card.

However, suspected racist or discriminatory incidents can still be referred to UEFA’s disciplinary bodies, which retain the power to impose severe sanctions when misconduct is established.

Water breaks remain flexible

UEFA has also rejected a universal requirement for water breaks.

Instead, decisions on whether to introduce breaks will be made before matches based on weather and climatic conditions.

The approach gives match officials greater flexibility to determine whether extreme heat or other conditions require an interruption.

Referees regain centre stage

The collection of changes reflects UEFA’s broader effort to improve match management while maintaining the balance between technology and human judgement.

By limiting VAR interventions, tightening time-wasting rules and giving referees greater authority, UEFA hopes to make European matches more fluid while ensuring that technology remains a tool for officials rather than a replacement for their judgement.