In the Premier League this season, fans will see some new rules that have been introduced by the International Football Association Board (IFAB) which oversees the Laws of the Game.
Competitions around the world also have a framework set for how the game is managed and officiated in their fixtures.
The Premier League Football Principles is a framework that is informed by consultation with all of the game’s participants (fans, clubs, match officials) and made in agreement between the League and Professional Game Match Officials (PGMO), whose referees take charge of the matches.
This is why fans see Premier League matches refereed in a different way to matches in Europe, such as a higher threshold for fouls and intervention around Video Assistant Referees.
More information can be seen at the 2025/26 Premier League and PGMO Competition Guidance Handbook. (Download PDF 47MB)
Changes to IFAB Laws
For the 2025/26 season, fans will see the following changes to Laws of the Game on the pitch:
'Captains Only' approach
When the referee initiates "Captain Only", IFAB states that only one player from each team – usually the captain – is allowed to approach the referee and, when doing so, they must always interact in a respectful manner. This change formally recognises the important relationship between the referee and captain. So normal interactions between players and referees are allowed and remain important, but referees may engage a captain to provide explanation for important decisions. Those captains are also responsible for helping direct team-mates away from the referee.
If a team’s captain is a goalkeeper, the referee must be told before the coin-toss, which player is nominated to approach the referee instead of the goalkeeper.
The Premier League hopes that this approach will re-energise and refresh the Participant Behaviour charter that was introduced in 2023 and has led to much improved behaviour. Since the charter was introduced, examples of mass confrontations and surrounding the match officials were reduced last season, compared with 2022/23. It is hoped that the "Captains Only" approach will deliver an important message across the football pyramid that the Premier League is leading by example.
'Eight-second rule' for goalkeepers
A corner kick is awarded if a goalkeeper, inside their penalty area, controls the ball with their hand(s)/arm(s) for more than eight seconds before releasing it.
A goalkeeper is in control when:
• holding the ball in hands/arms
• the ball is held between any surface
• holding the ball on an outstretched open hand(s)
• bouncing it on the ground
• throwing it in the air
The referee will decide when the goalkeeper has control of the ball and the eight seconds begin and will visually count down the last five seconds with a raised hand.
If during the counting process an attacking player pressures or prevents the goalkeeper releasing the ball, an indirect free-kick against the attacker will be awarded.
A corner kick on the side of the field nearest to the goalkeeper is awarded for the first such offence by a goalkeeper.
A second offence will have a warning from the referee added, while a third will lead to the referee issuing the ‘keeper a yellow card.
Dropped ball restarts
If play is stopped with the ball inside the penalty area, this will mean a dropped ball to the goalkeeper to restart. If play is stopped with the ball outside the penalty area, there will be a dropped ball from the stopping point to the team who have or would have gained possession.
Double-touch penalties
An accidental double touch of a penalty by the kicker would mean that the spot-kick should be retaken. A deliberate touch will see an indirect free-kick awarded to the defending team.
Inadvertent interference
If, without intending to interfere with play unfairly, a team official, substitute, substituted or sent-off player or a player who is temporarily off the field of play (because of injury, adjusting equipment etc.) touches the ball while it is still in play, but when it is clearly leaving the field of play, this is penalised with an indirect free-kick; there is no sanction.
Any clear or deliberate and impactful interference will mean a direct free-kick or penalty kick is awarded along with a red card if it is a manager, head coach or other technical staff.
Assistant referees' positioning at penalty kicks
At a penalty kick, the assistant referee will remain on the touchline and take a position in line with the penalty mark. The VAR will be solely responsible for monitoring any goalkeeper encroachment at the taking of a penalty kick.
Premier League Football Principles
Maintain high threshold for penalising challenges
Match officials in the Premier League will maintain a high threshold for penalising challenges – not every contact is a foul – while protecting player safety. The higher threshold will continue to applied for handball offences too.
Maintain high threshold for VAR intervention
"Referee’s Call' was introduced last season as the match official in the middle, who can feel and read the game, is best placed to make the ultimate decision. Their decision will stand unless, in the opinion of the VAR, based upon the evidence readily available, that call is a clear and obvious error.
This helped to reduce the VAR delays from an average of 64 seconds to 39 seconds per match last season.
Last season officials got 86 per cent of all key match incidents (KMI – such as goals, red cards, penalties etc) correct, matching the 2023/24 level, according to the independent KMI Panel. Post-VAR intervention, the rate of correct decisions for KMIs increased to 97 per cent (an increase of one percentage point on 2023/24), while the number of errors by VAR fell from 31 in 2023/24 to 18 last season.
The aim is for more efficient application of VAR for 2025/26, including the use of Semi-Automated Offside Technology (SAOT), which was introduced in Matchweek 32 last season. This will be in use throughout 2025/26 after helping to save 27 seconds per offside event last season.
Improving in-stadium VAR experience
As part of the VAR Improvement Plan, one of the core aims is to improve the communication and transparency to supporters, especially those in the stadium.
Fans in Premier League stadiums will therefore see for the first time referees making announcements across the stadium PA system to clarify all VAR reviews, apart from factual offside/onside decisions. This has previously been in place in FA Cup and EFL Cup matches.
All goals which are disallowed on-field and subsequently confirmed as "check complete" by the VAR will be shown on the giant screen in stadiums with the definitive clip or screenshot as to why the goal was disallowed. All VAR overturns will also be shown on the big screens.
This will go alongside the increased transparency and communication taking place online, with the Premier League Match Centre account on X clarifying referee decisions and VAR intervention (which it did for more than 325 incidents last season) and the Match Officials Mic’d Up series of videos explaining official decision-making.
Reducing disruption and time-wasting
Referees will also maintain stronger measures to reduce time-wasting and disruption tactics .
Effective playing time in the Premier League last season was reduced in comparison with 2023/24. The average ball-in-play time in 2024/25 was 56 minutes 58 seconds, compared with 58 minutes 10 seconds in 2023/24. The 2024/25 average time was still an increase on 2022/23, when the average time was 54 minutes 57 seconds.
Refereeing points emphasis for 2025/26
Holding
There will be enhanced recognition of holding offences on-field. Officials will be encouraged to identify and penalise offences, with "Referee’s Call" continuing to be used for checks made by VAR.
Simulation
A robust approach to deal with actions intended to deceive the referee will be taken in Premier League fixtures and will result in a caution.
Head injuries
Where a player has a suspected head injury and the referee stops the game, the official will immediately signal for a doctor or physio to enter the pitch in order to promote player welfare. The player will need to leave the pitch for further assessment and remain on the touchline for a minimum 30 seconds after play has restarted.
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