FIFA’s new anti-time-wasting rules during the 2026 FIFA World Cup have proven to be an overwhelming hit, chief referee Pierluigi Collina said on Tuesday.
Collina said the changes to the rules – including a five-second limit on goal kicks and throw-ins and a strict 10-second exit rule for substituted players – have changed the pace of play.
“These measures have all been very effective and are unanimously regarded as very positive innovations,” Collina said in a statement, which showed only one substituted player failed to meet the 10-second deadline in 72 group stage matches.
Collina said players who have been substituted run to the sideline to leave the field as quickly as possible, even if their team was leading at the time.
If the player being sent off does not leave the field of play within 10 seconds, the substitute may not enter the field of play until the first interruption until one minute has elapsed after the restart.
Meanwhile, the five-second rule was broken a total of 15 times: four times when goal kicks resulted in corners being awarded to opponents and 11 times when throw-ins resulted in possession being reverted.
Collina added that the new rules, which require injured players requiring treatment to leave the field for one minute after the restart, have led to fewer injuries.
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“The number of injuries to players has decreased dramatically, and there have been very few cases requiring the intervention of medical personnel,” he said.
«The overall behavior has also been very good so far, with two warnings for dissent over a referee’s decision for players and two for coaches. Six of the 10 red cards given so far have been for denying a clear goal-scoring opportunity and only one for putting a hand over the mouth during a confrontation with an opponent,» he added.
Paraguay’s Miguel Almiron became the first player to be sent off for covering his mouth during on-pitch confrontations, with the winger serving a one-match ban.
Collina also explained why VAR intervened to rule out Jonathan Tah’s extra-time goal for Germany after Waldemar Anton was deemed to have fouled Paraguay goalkeeper Orlando Gill in the build-up.
Germany coach Julian Nagelsmann was furious in the dugout and was shown a yellow card for his protests, but Collina said the coaches had been informed of the new rules.
“If an attacking player is not interested in the ball and moves deliberately, even marginally, with the clear intention of impeding the opponent’s movement and preventing him from defending, then referees and, if necessary, VAR must carefully analyze the incident and intervene,” he said.
«This is especially the case when the tactic is to prevent the opposing goalkeeper from defending the goal. Coaches and players have been informed, so it should come as no surprise that referees will penalize these violations,» he added.
Published on July 1, 2026
