Premier League outlines refereeing changes and law updates for 2026/27 | OneFootball

The Premier League announced new refereeing guidance and law changes for 2026/27, clarifying hair-pull sanctions and tightening time-wasting controls.

An end-of-season stakeholder survey informed the Game Improvement Advisory Group, comprising the division, PGMO and top-tier clubs, which then set refereeing principles and points of emphasis.

Hair pulls will bring a yellow card if there is no excessive force or brutality. Red follows only for a clear, deliberate pull using excessive force or brutality. How VAR would have viewed Ballard's incident remains unclear, underlining a higher bar for violent conduct.

Referees will keep a less is more approach on handball and step up penalties for holding at set plays. There will be greater focus on challenges that block a goalkeeper's movement towards the ball. The shifts aim to address criticism over grappling and set-piece dominance.

IFAB-mandated law changes, many already visible at the World Cup, will also apply.

Players needing treatment must now leave the pitch for at least one minute, doubling previous guidance. A five-second countdown will be used for deliberate delays at goal kicks and throw-ins. If breached, the opposition gain the throw-in, or a corner if it was a goal kick.

There is a 10-second limit for substituted players to leave the field. If exceeded, the incoming player must wait one minute after the restart before entering.

VAR can now review when a second yellow results in a red, but will not step in for potential second yellows. The league has not adopted optional scope increases, such as correcting wrongly awarded corners.

Source: Sunderland Echo