According to German sports channel Sport1, the German Football League has announced new rules for next season's Bundesliga, which will also apply to the 2. Bundesliga. Most of the adjustments are based on FIFA rules, with the World Cup also serving as a testing ground for the German Football League.

New Bundesliga Rules

Like FIFA, the German Football League is focusing on limiting time-wasting. The powers of video assistant referees will also be further expanded in Germany's top two leagues.

Bundesliga Rule Changes: Time-Wasting

Kick-offs and throw-ins: As in the World Cup, Bundesliga goalkeepers must now also ensure the ball is released as quickly as possible. If a goalkeeper holds the ball for more than 5 seconds at kick-off, the referee will award a corner kick to the opposing team. The same applies to throw-ins; after a 5-second countdown, possession will transfer to the other team.

Furthermore, from now on, if a substitution is not completed within 10 seconds, the substitute player may only enter the field at the next stoppage in play and after 1 minute has passed. In the event of an injury stoppage, players receiving treatment on the field must also wait off the field for 1 minute. Belgium once prevented this rule from taking effect in a match against Iraq in bizarre fashion.

VAR Intervention for Yellow and Red Cards

A significant change is the expanded authority of VAR: in the past, fouls or handballs leading to a second yellow card and a subsequent red card could not be overturned by the video assistant referee. This has now changed, and the justification for a sending off due to a second yellow card can be reviewed via replay.

Another rule change concerns the "advantage" principle. If the referee initially plays advantage and a goal is subsequently scored, the offending player will no longer be shown a yellow card in such a situation.

These rule changes may continue to evolve in the future.

Whether VAR can intervene in set pieces and disallow unwarranted corner kicks remains under discussion. It has also yet to be decided whether a clear foul by an attacking player before the ball re-enters play should be reviewed when a goal is scored from a corner kick or free kick.

After the World Cup, it will also be determined whether covering the mouth during confrontational communication should result in a direct red card. Referee Ivan Barton strictly enforced this rule in Turkey's match against Paraguay, sending off Miguel Almiron for covering his mouth. Additionally, players may be shown a red card if they leave the field in protest against a referee's decision.

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