According to Mundo Deportivo, the Spanish Refereeing Technical Committee on Tuesday published new rules for the 2026-2027 season, with key points including hydration breaks, substitutions, DOGSO, five-second countdowns, and VAR intervention scope.

As Mundo Deportivo previously reported, there will be no hydration breaks throughout the new La Liga season unless the temperature reaches 32 degrees Celsius. Hydration breaks must be agreed upon in advance and announced as part of the match procedure; neither team can actively request a cooling break during the match. Referees will ensure that hydration takes place at appropriate times during each half, lasting no more than 3 minutes.

If not agreed upon before the match, the referee may exceptionally allow players to rehydrate during a natural stoppage in play, such as an injury, substitution, goal celebration, or VAR review, provided that hot weather or excessive humidity is sufficient justification, and without causing additional stoppages. Hydration time must also not exceed 1 minute.

Player Substitution Rules

Next are the substitution rules. A player must leave the field within 10 seconds after the substitution board is raised. If a player fails to leave the field within 10 seconds, unless under special circumstances, they must still leave the field, but the substitute player can only enter at the next stoppage of play after 1 minute has elapsed since the game restarted. The substituted player will only receive a yellow card if they clearly delay the restart for more than 10 seconds. If the substituted player commits a red-card offense after that moment, the substitute player may still participate.

Goalkeepers must leave the field from the goal line. If it takes too long, the substitute player can enter immediately, and the goalkeeper will be cautioned with a yellow card. If multiple players are substituted during the same stoppage, all substituted players must leave the field within 10 seconds after the last substitution instruction.

Injured players requiring treatment must leave the field for 1 minute, and there are new rules for tactical injury withdrawals for goalkeepers.

The next rule addresses injured players who receive treatment or assessment on the field, or whose injury causes a stoppage in play or delays the restart. Such players must leave the field and remain off the field for 1 minute of real time after the game restarts. The referee may allow them to return to the field while the ball is still in play. There are several exceptions to this rule: if the player explicitly states they do not need medical assistance, unless the match was stopped due to this injury; or if the player voluntarily leaves the field during play or a stoppage without delaying the restart.

Goalkeepers can also receive treatment on the field for injuries such as head impacts, serious actions, or if the kicker themselves is injured during a penalty kick. Next is a new rule, previously disclosed by Mundo Deportivo, applicable only to La Liga and the Premier League: if a goalkeeper receives treatment for a tactical injury withdrawal, rather than a normal injury, the player must leave the field, and the coach has 10 seconds to decide who will be off for 1 minute. If the coach does not decide, the captain will leave the field.

Significant Changes in Decisions for Obvious Goal-Scoring Opportunities

There are also significant changes in how referees apply the advantage rule in the DOGSO area, i.e., when there is an obvious goal-scoring opportunity. If the attacking team scores, the offending player will not receive a card or be sent off.

If the referee applies the advantage principle after a player attempts to block a goal with their hand or arm but fails, no yellow card will be shown either. The determination of DOGSO will also consider player positions and the number of attacking players, as these factors also help determine whether an obvious goal-scoring opportunity exists.

Five-Second Countdown

There are also new countdown rules for delaying throw-ins and goal kicks. If a team deliberately delays a throw-in or goal kick, the referee must blow the whistle, indicate that the throw-in or goal kick must be taken, and start a 5-second visible countdown.

If the ball has not been put back into play when the countdown ends, possession will be awarded to the opposing team. Furthermore, in the case of a throw-in, the offending player will only be cautioned with a yellow card if they clearly delay the restart after possession has been changed to the opponent.

Explanation of the decision in the Atletico Madrid vs. Barcelona match The explanation of the correct procedure for taking a goal kick and the subsequent handball decision is particularly important. As Mundo Deportivo previously reported, the Refereeing Technical Committee admitted that they should have awarded a penalty kick in the Copa del Rey quarter-final between Atletico Madrid and Barcelona. The explanation is clear: a goal kick is considered correctly taken when the ball is stationary within the goal area and kicked by any defending player. If the ball is handled by the goalkeeper, and a teammate deliberately touches the ball with their hand or arm inside the penalty area, the correct decision is a penalty kick. VAR Intervention Scope This lengthy document concludes with a new scope for VAR intervention. VAR can intervene for "red cards resulting from a clearly incorrect second yellow card."

It can also intervene for "mistaken identity," i.e., when the referee shows a yellow or red card, clearly penalizing the wrong player from either team. The foul itself cannot be reviewed unless it is in the context of mistaken identity. If a corner kick decision is clearly incorrect, VAR also has the right to intervene, even if the ball has already crossed the touchline, as long as it can be immediately corrected without delaying the restart. If the corner kick has been taken quickly, the decision cannot be changed. If the referee changes a decision based on VAR information, a television signal must be given.

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