Israeli Football Referees Introduce New Rules to Speed Up Play and Expand VAR Use

Ahead of the 2026/27 football season in Israel, Ziv Adler, head of the refereeing department, outlined key constitutional changes aimed at reducing game delays and improving officiating. These include stricter rules on substitutions, where players must exit from the nearest point within 10 seconds unless injured, and must remain off the field for at least one minute after entering. Injury protocols now require players to leave the field for treatment unless a card was issued to the fouling player, significantly reducing treatment time on the pitch. Additionally, a five-second count has been introduced for throw-ins and goal kicks, after which the ball is awarded as a corner kick if not played.

The use of VAR has been expanded to allow referees to quickly correct clear errors, such as wrongful second yellow cards or incorrect corner kick decisions, within 10 seconds. VAR can also intervene on fouls occurring before free kicks or corners if they impact scoring opportunities. Transparency with teams has increased, with clubs invited to review video clips of decisions, although a commercial rollout of this initiative was halted after initial pilot programs.

Adler also addressed disciplinary issues, emphasizing that team officials must not leave the bench area to maintain order and referee authority, referencing the chaotic Israeli State Cup final as a cautionary example. The refereeing roster has seen changes, including promotions and reassignments, with a focus on integrating younger referees and increasing game assignments for top officials.

Regarding match interruptions due to flares, referees are instructed to continue play if possible, but games will be stopped if smoke obstructs camera views, particularly those covering the penalty area. Adler defined a successful season as one with fewer critical errors and increased net playing time, aiming to surpass 58 minutes of active play per match despite ongoing challenges.

The full interview was featured on the "Olim LaRegel" sports program on Sport 5 on August 15, 2026.