Conmebol adopts new rules, but drops Vini Jr law: CBF to discuss

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·15 luglio 2026

Conmebol adopts new rules, but drops Vini Jr law: CBF to discuss

The 2026 FIFA World Cup ends next Sunday (19), when Spain will face either Argentina or England in New Jersey (USA) at 4 p.m. Brasília time.

But the ball will start rolling again in South America right after that, with the start of the Copa Sudamericana round-of-16 playoff clashes, featuring matches involving Grêmio, RB Bragantino, Santos, and Vasco on July 21, 22, and 23.

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So, this Tuesday (14), Conmebol announced that it will adopt the new football rules approved in February this year by the International Football Association Board (IFAB) — the body that has defined the laws of the game for nearly 150 years — and which were used at the 2026 World Cup.

Reglas de Juego 2026/27 para las competiciones CONMEBOL aprobadas por el International Football Association Board (IFAB).
– martedì 14 luglio 2026

However, Conmebol left out the "Vini Jr Law," which punishes with a red card players who cover their mouths during arguments with opponents on the field.

Paraguay’s Almirón and Ecuador’s Hincapié, in fact, were sent off in matches for their national teams at the World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

With the aim of making matches more dynamic and cracking down on time-wasting, the new rules will continue to be implemented in most international tournaments in the second half of 2026.

📜 Check out the new football rules

Throw-ins and goal kicks: the referee can begin a visible five-second count when noticing a deliberate delay in taking the restart. If the time runs out, possession goes to the opposing team (in the case of a goal kick, it becomes a corner);
Substitutions: the substituted player has 10 seconds to leave the field after the fourth official raises the board. If delayed, the substitute must wait one minute before entering, leaving the team one player short during that period;
Medical treatment: players must now wait at least 60 seconds to return to the game after receiving treatment on the field, with their team playing one player short during that time;
Expanded VAR: the video referee will also be able to correct wrongly awarded corners and cases of a second yellow card given by mistake, without the referee needing to go to the monitor.

🤔 What about the Vini Jr Law?

Conmebol will not adopt the sending-off of players who cover their mouths during arguments with opponents on the field.

The issue drew attention last season, when Argentine player Prestianni, of Benfica, was accused of making racist remarks against Vinícius Júnior of Real Madrid in a Champions League match.

Like Conmebol, UEFA also will not adopt the "Vini Jr Law" in its tournaments.

Conmebol decide não utilizar lei Vini Jr. em suas competições A entidade sul-americana informou que acatará a determinação da FIFA para utilizar a lei Vini Jr. em suas competições, que determina a expulsão do jogador que cobrir a boca ao provocar um adversário. Via: @UOLEsporte
– martedì 14 luglio 2026

👀 And in Brazil?

Last Monday (13), the CBF sent a letter to clubs in Série A and Série B to schedule a meeting in August to present the studies carried out on the impact of the new football rules.

The intention of the body that runs Brazilian football is to discuss with the clubs the feasibility, timeline, and procedures for a possible adoption in the Brasileirão.

The "Vini Jr Law" will be on the agenda of the CBF meeting with Brazilian clubs, and referees are already being trained to apply the new rules.

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

📸 DANIEL DUARTE - AFP or licensors