FIFA and IFAB want to put an end to scenes of collective protest. Starting with the 2026 World Cup, a team that decides to leave the field to protest a referee's decision will face heavy sanctions.
Leaving the field could be very expensive.
According to new rules approved by the IFAB, players who leave the pitch in protest can receive a red card. Staff members who encourage their players to leave the field can also be sanctioned.
A possible forfeit in case the match is stopped
The sanctions could go even further. If a team's behavior causes a match to be interrupted or abandoned, that team could, in principle, forfeit the game. FIFA wants to send a clear message: collective protests will no longer be tolerated.
A measure designed to protect the authority of referees.
Football authorities are seeking to strengthen respect for officials. Scenes of players surrounding the referee, arguing at length about a decision, or threatening to leave the pitch have become commonplace. One particularly memorable example is the last Africa Cup of Nations final, during which Senegal left the field minutes after conceding a penalty against Morocco.
However, this measure could raise questions in certain sensitive cases. If a team leaves the field after racist insults or a serious incident, the situation could be interpreted differently. Therefore, the text leaves some room for interpretation by the competition organizer.
The 2026 World Cup will serve as a full-scale test
These new rules will be applied at the 2026 World Cup, which will bring together 48 teams. The teams will be informed of the specific guidelines shortly. One thing is certain: FIFA wants to prevent disputes with referees from escalating into confrontations during matches.
