06/17/2026
New substitution rule!
To prevent time-wasting, the player being substituted must leave the field of play within TEN SECONDS of the substitution board being shown or, where there is no board, of the referee’s signal for the substitution to take place.
If the player has not left the field of play within the required ten seconds:
➡ they must still leave as quickly as possible
➡ the substitute is not permitted to enter
➡ play restarts
➡ the substitution cannot be cancelled nor a different substitute used
➡ the substitute may only enter the field of play at the first stoppage after one minute has elapsed following the restart and after receiving a signal from the referee; the one minute is timed using a running clock and is determined by the referee, who may be assisted by the other match officials.
Where the ten seconds are exceeded and the substitute is prevented from entering the field of play, the player being substituted is only cautioned (yellow card) if they excessively delay the restart beyond the ten seconds.
MULTIPLE SUBSTITUTIONS
Where there is more than one substitution and/or both teams make substitutions during the same stoppage, all the substituted players (from both teams) must leave the field of play within ten seconds of the substitution board being shown/signal being given for the final substitution.
The board/signal must not be delayed between substitutions that are made during the same stoppage.
Find out more: bit.ly/Ten-second_substitutions
Keep up to date with all changes: bit.ly/Changes26_27
Download the official Laws of the Game app: bit.ly/Laws_App_
