new rule
In an Italian edition of Corriere dello Sport, rumors circulated that FIFA is considering extending half-time injury stoppages during the World Cup in Qatar. The report suggests a push from FIFA President Gianni Infantino for longer stoppages that could push match times beyond the 100-minute mark. Such a move would require ratification by the International Football Association Board (IFAB) before it could take effect at the tournament running from November 21 to December 18.
IFAB’s review would determine whether this potential change becomes official policy. World Cup finals have long served as a testing ground for rule innovations, and this current idea mirrors that tradition, though it remains unconfirmed at the time of reporting.
Mundial – an experimental field
Historically, the World Cup has acted as a proving ground for rule experiments. In the 1990 World Cup hosted by Italy, offside rules saw a notable shift. Previously, attackers had to be clearly ahead of the defenders to be onside; the new interpretation allowed attackers to be level with the last defender and still be considered onside in certain situations. This change did not immediately settle into a fixed standard, as referees received continual guidance to interpret gray areas in ways that could favor the attacking side, sometimes by measuring centimeters of separation between players.
The 1994 World Cup in the United States brought a suite of alterations, many of them cosmetic but influential. For the first time, dotted technical markings appeared near the benches, and referees were permitted to wear colored uniforms in shades such as yellow, red, blue, green, and mauve. A more substantive shift occurred when red cards began to be shown for dangerous interceptions from behind, signaling a move to tighten physical play and curb reckless challenges. Since that tournament, the rules around fouls and discipline have continued to evolve, with officials sometimes adjusting penalties based on the context of each challenge.
The 2002 World Cup introduced a goalkeeper rule allowing more freedom with ball handling, reducing the number of steps they could take with the ball after releasing it, and capping deliberate delays. While the rule still exists, referees rarely penalize extended ball control by goalkeepers, and players often push the boundary in possession scenarios.
From 2006 onward, players were barred from wearing jewelry on the field. The policy initially required coverings for piercings and rings; later practice led to comprehensive removal before kickoff. These equipment-related updates reflect ongoing efforts to ensure player safety and uniformity on the pitch.
important innovations
World Cup moments frequently precede broader changes in the sport. In 1992, goalkeepers were prohibited from handling back-passes that could have been played differently, a rule that reshaped ball distribution and pressing strategies. Two years later, many competitions adopted a three-point victory system rather than two, incentivizing teams to pursue wins rather than settle for draws. That shift aimed to foster more attacking play and reduce stagnation in standings.
The late 1990s saw an expansion of substitution allowances, culminating in prior to the COVID era a framework where substitutions could exceed the original limit under certain conditions. The 1998 season also redefined how indirect free kicks and direct goal kicks were treated within scoring accounting, marking a subtle but meaningful expansion of what counts toward a team’s tally.
Entering the 21st century, tournament organizers experimented with video technology to aid referees. Before video review, some matches relied on human judgment alone; the deployment of video assistance gradually improved decision accuracy, though it sparked ongoing debate about its impact on the flow of the game. By 2018, video assistant referees (VAR) had become a standard feature across many major competitions, bringing technology into closer alignment with refereeing in real time.
Another landmark change was the removal of the away goals rule in European competition and similar two-legged ties. The away goals criterion, once a decisive tiebreaker in aggregate scoring, was phased out in favor of deciding outcomes through extra time or penalties when teams finished level on aggregate. This shift altered strategic approaches to two-legged ties and emphasized the importance of performance in every leg rather than relying on away goals as a tiebreaker.
Wenger’s ideas
FIFA has consistently pursued modernization of the rules, occasionally partnering with former coaches to pilot new concepts. In recent years, innovations under the guidance of Arsène Wenger, who oversaw the FIFA rules development unit, were tested in youth-focused initiatives like the Football For Future Cup. These trials explored concepts such as shorter halves, stops in play when the ball is out of bounds, unlimited substitutions, and modified disciplinary procedures. The overarching aim was to make the sport more engaging for the next generation and to accelerate the pace of play when action resumes after interruptions, echoing the tempo of indoor or futsal formats.
While these experiments attracted attention, none of them gained formal approval at the time. The broader discussion around adjusting match time to keep the ball in play longer remains a topic of debate within the global federation. The recent interest in compensating time indicates that a wholesale rethinking of match duration may still be a future consideration rather than an immediate change.