CBF briefs Brazil coaching staff on FIFA’s new rules | OneFootball

On Wednesday, the technical committee of the Brazilian National Team participated in a meeting at the CBF headquarters with the Refereeing Commission, an initiative that included the presence of coach Carlo Ancelotti and his entire team.

The meeting was led by the president of the Refereeing Commission, Rodrigo Cintra, who presented in detail the changes in the rules defined by FIFA and the International Board. These changes will take effect globally starting in 2025 and will already have a practical impact on international competitions.

The main objective of the meeting was to align the understanding between referees and the technical department, ensuring that tactical and behavioral adaptations are incorporated into the daily work with athletes and coaches. The updates involve both the interpretation of conduct on the field and new procedures aimed at increasing the flow of matches and the effective playing time.

Photo: Fábio Souza / CBF

Main Points Addressed

During the presentation, Rodrigo Cintra detailed how the new guidelines will be applied on the field, with real examples, practical situations, and clarifications on conduct that was previously tolerated and will now require a different stance from players and technical staff members.

For the General Coordinator of Men's National Teams, Rodrigo Caetano, the meeting was essential to reduce interpretative doubts and prepare the team for the new scenario. According to him, the direct dialogue between refereeing and the technical committee allowed for clarification on how the rules will affect the pace of matches, the agility in substitutions, and the need to train specific procedures.

“It is very important for the National Teams Department to receive data and information from Rodrigo Cintra, who is the president of the Refereeing Commission. The changes implemented by the International Board and FIFA will have a significant impact on the dynamics of the games. This needs to be very well understood by all of us in the technical staff and by the athletes. It also shows the work we are doing to have the best possible preparation for the World Cup,” he stated.

Anti-Time Wasting Package: Focus on Game Flow

One of the main topics was the so-called anti-time wasting package, a FIFA initiative aimed at reducing delays and making the game more dynamic. Cintra explained that the intention is to increase the playing time and favor offensive actions. Under the new guidelines, actions such as delaying restarts, simulating injuries, or delaying substitutions will be more strictly controlled.

FIFA wants to see teams showing interest in playing. To achieve this, clubs and national teams will need to align tactical, physical, and disciplinary aspects, training quick substitution procedures, efficient restarts, and immediate responses in pressure situations.

“This interaction with the National Teams Department is always very productive, in a continuous exchange of experiences and knowledge. Brazilian football benefits from this. In the meeting itself, among other issues, it was important to convey the understanding that FIFA no longer tolerates time wasting and excessive delays. FIFA wants teams to show interest in playing,” said Rodrigo Caetano.

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Rules Impacting the World Cup

Changes that will already start to apply in upcoming international competitions — including the 2026 World Cup — were also detailed. Among the most relevant new features:

Substitutions: the substituted player will have 10 seconds to leave the field. If this time is exceeded, the substitute will only enter after 1 minute, temporarily leaving the team with one less player. Throw-ins and goal kicks: must be taken within 5 seconds after the referee's count; failure to comply will result in loss of possession, with the throw-in or kick being awarded to the opponent. Strict application: the referee's interpretation will be decisive, and tolerance for delays will be much lower.

These changes reinforce the standardization of criteria and accelerate the pace of matches, requiring discipline and organization from the teams.

Practical Implications and Adaptations in Work

For the National Team to take advantage of the new rules, the technical committee must integrate them into training. This includes simulations of timed substitutions, quick restart exercises, and mental preparation of athletes to react objectively in pressure moments.

Additionally, the medical department and physical preparation need to adjust protocols to avoid unnecessary interruptions that could be interpreted as time wasting.

The approach with the CBF Refereeing Commission also creates a continuous dialogue channel, allowing for clarification of doubts and uniformity in rule interpretation.

Next Steps

Following the meeting, the tendency is for the National Team to intensify specific practices in training, reinforce internal guidelines, and implement simulations focused on the new rules. The CBF is expected to release further updates throughout the year, ensuring that the team is fully adapted and prepared to compete at a high level in international competitions.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.