Premier League sets new refereeing focus for 2026/27, including hair-pull sanctions | OneFootball

The Premier League has announced new refereeing guidelines for 2026/27, raising the bar for violent conduct and tightening anti-time-wasting measures.

Following an end-of-season survey, its Game Improvement Advisory Group, which includes representatives from the division, PGMO and top-tier clubs, has set updated refereeing principles and points of emphasis.

Hair pulls will usually bring a yellow card where there is no excessive force or brutality. A red card applies only to clear, deliberate hair pulling with excessive force or brutality. How VAR would have judged Ballard’s incident remains unclear.

Referees will maintain a restrained approach to handball and place greater focus on penalising holding at set plays. Officials are also encouraged to punish challenges that prevent goalkeepers moving towards the ball at set plays.

IFAB-mandated law changes, many already visible at the World Cup, will also apply. Players who receive treatment must now leave the pitch for at least a minute, double the previous guidance.

A five-second countdown will apply to deliberate delays at goal kicks and throw-ins. Once breached, the opposition will be awarded a throw-in, or a corner if it was a goal kick.

Players have 10 seconds to leave the field at substitutions, otherwise the incoming player must wait a minute after play restarts before entering.

VAR can now review incidents where a second yellow leads to a red, but will not intervene for potential second yellow offences. The Premier League has not adopted the optional expansion of VAR’s scope, such as correcting a wrongly awarded corner.

Source: Sunderland Echo