The Premier League has confirmed four significant rule changes that will come into effect from the start of the 2026-27 season. These changes, passed by league lawmakers during the summer break, will impact injuries, restarts, substitutions, and VAR decisions. Here is a breakdown of the new rules and how they will affect Aston Villa.
Injuries
Any player who receives on-field treatment or assessment must now leave the field of play for a minimum of 60 seconds. This is double the previous 30-second period used by the Premier League.
Restarts
Throw-ins and goal kicks will be subject to a 'five second' countdown. If the time limit is exceeded, the opposing team will be awarded the throw-in, and for a goal kick, the opposing team will receive a corner.
Substitutions
Players being substituted now have a '10 second' time limit to leave the field. If they exceed this, the substitute cannot enter until the first stoppage after one minute has elapsed following the restart.
VAR
A VAR review will now occur when a second yellow card is awarded to a player, leading to a red card. This only applies when the referee shows a second yellow, not for potential second yellows. The Premier League will not adopt optional laws such as VAR review for incorrectly awarded corners.
All these changes will be in place from the start of the 2026-27 season. The fixtures for the new campaign are set to be released on Friday, June 19.
