Every new Premier League rule for the 2026-27 season explained

The 2026-27 Premier League season will introduce several new rules affecting substitutions, injuries, goalkeepers, set pieces and VAR as officials attempt to reduce time-wasting and improve decision-making.

Some of the measures were used during this summer's World Cup and will now feature in English football.

Here are the major changes supporters need to know before the new Premier League campaign begins.

Players who are substituted will have 10 seconds to leave the pitch and must continue to use the nearest available exit.

If they fail to leave within that period, the replacement will be delayed for one minute, leaving their team temporarily playing with 10 men.

Exceptions can be made when the substituted player is injured or there are security concerns.

Referees will also have greater powers to punish deliberate delays at restarts.

A five-second countdown can be introduced when the referee believes a player is deliberately wasting time at a throw-in or goal kick.

The referee will signal the countdown using the whistle and count down with their arm.

If a player takes too long over a throw-in, possession will be awarded to the opposition.

Goalkeepers who exceed the limit at goal kicks will instead concede a corner.

Long throw-in routines will be exempt because they are considered set-piece routines.

Players who receive treatment from a physio on the field must now remain off the pitch for one minute, increased from the previous 30-second period.

The same 60-second absence will apply when a player goes down injured before the ball subsequently leaves play.

There is an exception when the player responsible for the foul receives a yellow or red card. In that situation, the injured player will not have to remain off the field.

There is also a significant change designed to discourage goalkeepers from going down for treatment simply to create a tactical timeout.

If a goalkeeper receives treatment from the physio, one outfield teammate must leave the pitch for 60 seconds.

Teams will have 10 seconds to inform the fourth official which player will temporarily leave.

If they fail to nominate someone within that period, the captain will be required to leave for one minute.

VAR will also operate differently during the 2026-27 season.

Video officials will be able to intervene over second-yellow-card incidents that result in a sending-off, although there must be a clear error regarding the foul itself rather than simply disagreement over whether a yellow card was deserved.

VAR will also be able to review certain incidents at set pieces.

If an attacking team commits a foul before the delivery and the subsequent set piece results in a goal, penalty or card, VAR can intervene. As the ball was not yet in play when the offence occurred, the set piece would be retaken rather than a free kick awarded.

However, fouls by the defending team before the ball enters play cannot result in a VAR-awarded penalty.

Mistaken identity incidents can also be corrected.

Unlike at the World Cup, VAR will not be allowed to overturn incorrect corner decisions, while there will also be no VAR reviews specifically for players covering their mouths during confrontations.

Players, managers and officials will have to adjust immediately when the Premier League season begins.

The most noticeable changes are likely to involve time-wasting, with stricter substitution and restart countdowns potentially having an immediate effect on matches. The expanded VAR powers will also be closely watched as the league attempts to correct clear errors without significantly increasing interruptions.