Clubs, players, coaches and match officials in Northern Ireland are being reminded of the latest changes to the IFAB Laws of the Game, which came into effect at the beginning of the month.
A series of workshops are being held with clubs across the country, led by the Irish FA refereeing team, to discuss the amendments for the 2026/27 season which are designed to improve the flow of the game, reduce time-wasting and provide greater clarity for referees when managing substitutions, injury treatment and match restarts.
The key changes are:
10-second substitution rule
Players being substituted are now required to leave the field of play within 10 seconds of the substitution board being displayed or the referee signalling the change.
If a player exceeds the 10-second limit, the substitute will not be permitted to enter until the first stoppage after one minute of playing time has elapsed.
Injury treatment
With the exception of specific circumstances outlined within the Laws of the Game, any player who receives assessment or treatment on the field of play, or whose injury results in play being stopped, must leave the field and remain off for one minute after play has restarted.
Five-second countdown for throw-ins and goal kicks
Referees may now use a visible five-second countdown where they believe a player is delaying the taking of a throw-in or goal kick.
If the ball has not been put back into play before the countdown expires, possession will be awarded to the opposing team for a delayed throw-in, while a delayed goal kick will result in a corner kick being awarded.
Dropped ball clarification
The updated Laws clarify that the team which “would have gained possession” also includes the team that would have taken the restart if the ball had otherwise gone out of play.
Where play is affected by interference from a match official or an outside agent, play will restart with a dropped ball at the point where the interference occurred.
Penalty kicks
The Laws now formally incorporate IFAB Circular No. 31 regarding accidental double touches from penalty kicks and kicks from the penalty mark.
The amendment also removes the automatic caution for the kicker where both the kicker and goalkeeper commit offences simultaneously.
Denial of an obvious goalscoring opportunity (DOGSO)
The updated wording confirms that a DOGSO offence may still be recognised where advantage is played and a goal is subsequently scored.
In addition, “attackers” have now been included in the list of considerations referees should take into account when assessing a DOGSO incident.
Irish FA Head of Refereeing, Andrew Davey, said: “We are encouraging all clubs, players, coaches and match officials to familiarise themselves with the updated Laws ahead of the 2026/27 season. While it is the role of the governing body to impart this knowledge, everyone has a role to play in ensuring they fully understand and apply it.
“These changes are designed to improve the flow of the game and provide greater clarity for everyone involved. A consistent understanding of the Laws helps create a better environment for players, coaches and referees, ensuring matches are managed fairly and effectively across all levels of football.”