La Liga has introduced a series of new refereeing regulations ahead of the 2026/27 season, with major changes expected in areas including VAR decisions, substitutions, injuries and match delays.
The reforms are aimed at improving fairness, speeding up the game and increasing transparency in refereeing decisions across Spain’s top football division.
One of the biggest changes will see Video Assistant Referee (VAR) officials given greater authority. VAR will now be allowed to review incidents involving second yellow cards, incorrect red card decisions and wrongly awarded corners.
Previously, VAR intervention was limited to specific situations such as goals, penalties, and direct red-card offences.
Another key adjustment concerns substitutions. Players being replaced will now be required to leave the pitch within 10 seconds. If they fail to do so, the incoming substitute will have to wait an additional 60 seconds before entering the field.
New measures have also been introduced to address time lost through injuries. Players who receive medical treatment on the pitch will generally be required to remain outside the field for one minute before returning to play.
In cases where a goalkeeper stops play for treatment without being injured because of a foul, one teammate will also be required to leave the pitch temporarily.
La Liga will also enforce stricter rules on throw-ins, with players expected to take them within five seconds of receiving the ball to reduce unnecessary delays.
Changes have also been made regarding penalty kicks. If a player accidentally strikes the ball twice while taking a penalty and the ball does not enter the net, the attempt will be considered unsuccessful.
In a move designed to improve transparency, referees will now publicly explain their final decisions after VAR reviews, allowing fans and players to understand the reasoning behind important calls better.
