Premier League introduces 3 major rule changes for 2025–26 season: VAR among them
This Friday, the Premier League returns to official action. As has been the tradition in recent years, the reigning champions will kick off the new season: Liverpool will face Bournemouth at Anfield Road. Starting with this match, several rule changes will go into effect, including updates to VAR.
The most significant change concerns goalkeepers, who will now be prohibited from holding the ball in their hands for more than 8 seconds. The referee will be responsible for keeping count and, in the event of a violation, will award a corner kick to the opposing team.
This rule was introduced earlier this year in select FIFA competitions and is now making its way to England for the upcoming campaign. Previously, goalkeepers were allowed to hold the ball for up to 6 seconds, with the penalty for exceeding that limit being an indirect free kick inside the box for the opponent.
Because that punishment was so severe, it was rarely enforced, rendering the rule virtually useless in practice. In an effort to address this, the new rule grants goalkeepers more time while softening the penalty — ironically with the intention of encouraging stricter enforcement by referees.
New VAR feature in the Premier League
Another change this season aims to improve communication with fans. When a referee makes a decision based on a VAR review, they will now announce it over the stadium’s loudspeaker system so that fans in attendance understand what is being determined.
A separate change also focuses on communication, this time with players. Going forward, only team captains will be permitted to speak to the referee about major decisions made during matches. This is designed to reduce player protests and make referees’ jobs easier.
Could bigger VAR changes be coming soon?
The changes introduced this season are the result of testing FIFA began months ago to improve key aspects of the game. However, there are proposals under consideration that would lead to even more significant changes to the use of VAR — something that could eventually be adopted by the Premier League.
Currently, VAR is limited to a specific set of situations, mostly involving goals and red cards. However, some believe its use should be expanded to include, for example, yellow cards. England’s referees’ chief, Howard Webb, shared his perspective on this.
“The message we get is ‘less is more’ with VAR,” he said during a recent interview with BBC Sport. “If the game, or the people involved, tell us that greater use would be better for the game, then of course I’d be open — but we need to think carefully about the consequences, the ripple effects.”
Some believe overuse of VAR could harm the spectacle and fluidity of the game, and Webb addressed those concerns. “If you are talking about yellow cards that are delivered incorrectly, which could be impactful on the game, then you also have to think about wrongly not-issued yellow cards,” said the former referee. “There’s also a feeling that VAR already exists to rectify clear errors in big situations, so we’ll have those discussions and make sure to consult with the English game as well.”