UEFA announces new refereeing guidelines in UEFA Champions League

UEFA has announced new refereeing guidelines to be implemented in its competitions during the 2026/2027 season, focusing on giving the on-field referee a greater role and reducing unnecessary interventions from the Video Assistant Referee.

Roberto Rosetti, UEFA's refereeing director, explained that the association wants referees to be at the heart of the decision-making process, while also stressing the need for a unified application of the laws of the game across various European competitions.

In this context, UEFA has launched the "Clear Line" platform, which serves as a unified reference for refereeing decisions and the use of video technology. It includes over 150 refereeing cases with clarifications regarding the situations in which video technology should intervene and those that do not require review.

Among the most notable new directives is the tightening of measures regarding time-wasting. A substituted player must leave the pitch within 10 seconds, while a player receiving treatment must exit the field for one minute after play resumes, with exceptions for the goalkeeper and specific cases.

The referee will award a corner kick if the team delays taking a goal kick or a throw-in after a five-second countdown, as part of UEFA's desire to speed up the resumption of play and reduce stoppage times.

Regarding handball, UEFA explained that if the ball is stationary inside the goal area and is kicked, the goal kick is considered executed. If a teammate of the goalkeeper then deliberately touches the ball with their hand or arm inside the penalty area, a penalty kick is awarded.

UEFA has confirmed it will not use the option to issue a red card to a player who leaves the pitch in protest, but it emphasized that the team that causes the match to be interrupted or stopped due to having fewer than seven players will be considered the loser, according to the competition regulations.

These directives are part of UEFA's move towards a more consistent application of the laws of the game and the use of video technology, with Clear Line being adopted as a unified reference for referees, players, coaches, and fans to understand officiating decisions.