The Referees Committee of the Spanish Football Federation announced the adoption of the new amendments to the laws of the game, which will be applied starting from the 2026-2027 season, before the start of the Spanish League competitions next week.
The amendments included the introduction of a number of new laws, along with clarifications for some controversial refereeing situations, after their adoption by the International Football Association Board (IFAB), some of which were applied for the first time during the 2026 World Cup.
Setting a time limit for exiting during substitutions
The substituted player must now leave the pitch within 10 seconds of the substitution board being raised or from the referee's signal if no board is used.
If the player does not leave within this time limit without a reason related to injury or safety, the substitute player will not be allowed to enter the pitch until a full minute has passed after play resumes.
When multiple substitutions are made at the same time, all substituted players must leave the pitch within 10 seconds of the announcement of the last substitution.
New rule to limit goalkeepers' injury claims
The Spanish Federation adopted a new experiment to counter some goalkeepers deliberately falling claiming injury to waste time or give their coach an opportunity to give instructions.
Under the amendment, if the referee stops the match to treat the goalkeeper, the coach must choose a player from the team to leave the pitch for a full minute after play resumes.
If the coach does not specify the player within the first 10 seconds, the team captain must automatically leave the pitch for the same one-minute period.
This rule does not apply in three cases:
If the goalkeeper sustains an injury as a result of a foul warranting a free kick.
If there is contact between the goalkeeper and a player requiring treatment for both.
If the goalkeeper is bleeding.
Any player receiving treatment on the pitch is now also required to leave for a full minute before returning with the referee's permission.
Applying the advantage principle in restarting play
The referee may now apply the advantage principle if a throw-in, free kick, or corner kick is taken from the wrong place, as long as the opposing team immediately gains clear possession of the ball, instead of restarting the play.
Resolving the controversy over the double touch in penalty kicks
Following the controversy caused by Argentine Julián Álvarez's penalty kick against Real Madrid in the UEFA Champions League, the Spanish Federation adopted IFAB's new interpretation.
If the taker unintentionally touches the ball twice and scores, the penalty kick is retaken.
If the unintentional double touch occurs and does not result in a goal, the kick is considered wasted.
New sanctions for time-wasting in throw-ins and goal kicks
The referee will start a five-second countdown before executing a throw-in or goal kick if deliberate time-wasting is observed.
If not executed:
The throw-in is awarded to the opposing team.
The goal kick turns into a corner kick for the opposing team.
New clarification on executing goal kicks
The Spanish Federation resolved the controversy that arose last season in one of Atlético Madrid and Barcelona's matches, when the goalkeeper played the ball inside the penalty area before a teammate touched it with his hand.
According to the new interpretation, if the goalkeeper plays the ball and then a teammate deliberately touches it inside the penalty area with his hand or arm before it legally exits, a direct penalty kick is awarded to the opposing team.
If a defender wants to take the goal kick himself, it must be done before the goalkeeper touches the ball.
Expanding video assistant referee powers
The video assistant referee protocol saw the addition of several new reviewable situations, most notably:
Canceling a red card resulting from a second yellow if the decision was clearly wrong.
Correcting cases of cards shown to the wrong player (wrong identity).
Reviewing some incorrectly awarded corners if the decision can be corrected immediately without delaying the resumption of play.
Reviewing fouls committed by attackers before set pieces or corners are taken, if they result in a goal, a clear scoring opportunity, a penalty kick, or a sending-off.
Continuing to review goals, penalty kicks, and direct red cards, with expanded cases related to identifying the sanctioned player.
These amendments come as part of the Spanish Federation's plan to unify refereeing standards and reduce controversy, after testing a number of laws during the 2026 World Cup, in preparation for their full application in the new season.