Two weeks into the World Cup, the nine new rules implemented before the tournament have been put to the test. While some have been widely praised, others have drawn criticism from fans and pundits alike.
Hydration Breaks Criticised
The heavily debated hydration breaks have been condemned by fans and pundits, as expected. The breaks, which occur at the midway point of each half, have disrupted the flow of games and been met with widespread disapproval.
Corner Wrestling Reduced
One area where the new rules have had a positive impact is in reducing wrestling at corners. The threat of punishment has significantly curbed grappling and blocking before set pieces, leading to fewer incidents.
Time-Wasting Measures Successful
The new laws designed to clamp down on time-wasting have largely been successful. Players now have five seconds to take throw-ins, goal-kicks, or corners, and must leave the field within 10 seconds of being substituted. These measures have sped up play.
VAR and Refereeing Improvements
There has been less debate over how games are being refereed overall. Referees are letting more contact go and are less likely to award cheap free-kicks. VAR controversies have still occurred, such as Scotland's unsuccessful penalty appeal against Morocco and Germany's goal vs Ecuador, but they have been less frequent. VAR can now intervene on second yellow cards, mistaken identity, and wrongly awarded corner kicks.
Controversial Red Card Rule
The rule allowing automatic red cards for players covering their mouth while speaking to an opponent in an aggressive manner sparked debate. Miguel Almiron of Paraguay was sent off for doing so, but Jude Bellingham was not penalised for a similar action days later, highlighting inconsistency.
Other Notable Rules
Players or coaches leaving the field in protest at a referee's decision now receive an automatic red card. Players cannot re-enter the pitch for one minute after going off for treatment, except for goalkeepers or concussion cases. The hydration breaks remain a sticking point.
As the World Cup enters the knockout phases, the overall impact of the new rules has been mixed. While some have improved the game, others, like the hydration breaks, have been unpopular. Consistency remains a challenge.
