Premier League sets 'Football Principles' for 2026/27 season

The Premier League has set its “Football Principles” and “Refereeing Points of Emphasis” for the 2026/27 season, which help guide how referees will apply the Laws of the Game in the competition.

What are the Premier League Football Principles for 2026/27?

The high thresholds for penalising challenges on-field and for VAR intervention will continue in the Premier League.

The Premier League and PGMO will continue to lobby IFAB (the International Football Association Board, which determines the Laws of the Game) on opening up access to live audio for refereeing and VAR decisions.

On VAR delays, the Premier League and PGMO continue to build and deliver on aspects outlined in the “VAR Improvement Plan” including improving efficiency around semi-automated offside technology (SAOT), referee announcements and continued specific VAR training.

Premier League Football Principles – Season 2026/27 Maintain high threshold for penalising challenges – not every contact is a foul – while protecting player safety Maintain a high threshold for VAR intervention – "Referee’s Call" will stand unless, in the opinion of the VAR, based upon the evidence readily available, that a call is a clear and obvious error More efficient application of VAR, including the improved use of semi-automated offside technology, to reduce VAR delays Continue to focus on in-stadium VAR experience Continue a robust approach to improving participant behaviour on-field and in the technical area Maintain stronger measures to reduce time-wasting and disruption tactics

What will be the “Refereeing Points of Emphasis” for 2026/27?

Referees will enhance recognition of clear holding actions that have clear material impact, and/or non-footballing holding actions with no place on football pitch.

This includes penalising defenders where they are clearly only focused on opponents and making a holding action that is impactful on the attacker’s ability to play or challenge for the ball.

Challenges on goalkeepers will be penalised where an attacking player makes a clear action with no intent to play or challenge for the ball which results in contact that impacts the ability of the goalkeeper to play or challenge for the ball.

After discussion among the Premier League's Game Improvement Advisory Group (GIAG) as well as broader club consultation, it has been agreed to clarify the sanction around hair-pulling actions.

A red card will be issued when there is a clear and deliberate action to pull an opponent's hair with excessive force and/or brutality.

A yellow card will be issued if the action is deemed to be without excessive force and/or brutality.

Refereeing Points of Emphasis – Season 2026/27 Continue to deliver a "less is more" approach to penalising handball Enhance recognition of holding offences on-field Place a greater focus on challenges on goalkeepers where the attacking player clearly and unfairly impacts the ability of goalkeeper to move to ball Deal proportionately when sanctioning hair-pulling through new guidance Continue to deal robustly with clear actions intended to deceive the referee (simulation and embellishment)

Changes to Laws of the Game

In addition to the “Football Principles” and “Refereeing Points of Emphasis” for 2026/27 season, there are changes to the Laws of the Games that are mandatory and will be implemented in the Premier League next season.

- Players who receive on-field injury treatment/assessment will be required to leave for at least one minute (an increase from the 30 seconds previously used by the Premier League).

- A “five-second” countdown and restart reversal for clearly delaying throw-ins and goal-kicks (if the time limit is exceeded, the throw-in is awarded to the opposing team; for a goal-kick the opposing team are awarded a corner).

- A “10-second” time limit for players to leave the field when substituted. If the time limit is exceeded, the substitute cannot enter until the first stoppage after one minute has elapsed.

- A VAR review for when second yellow cards are awarded to a player resulting in a red card (only for when players are awarded a second yellow card, rather than a potential second yellow card).

The Premier League does not intend to adopt the competition optional laws, including the increase in scope of VAR to review incorrectly awarded corners.

How are the “Premier League Football Principles” and “Refereeing Points of Emphasis” set?

The Principles are set on the back of the Premier League Football Survey, which is conducted annually by Yonder, seeking feedback from stakeholders across the game including club owners, chairs, chief executives, football directors, managers, players, referees, pundits and supporters.

The results of the survey then inform discussions with clubs and PGMO (the organisation that oversees referees) via the GIAG to set the “Premier League Football Principles" and "Refereeing Points of Emphasis” for each season – resulting in a League set up to meet participants and supporters’ expectation of an intense, physical and competitive competition.

What this year's Premier League Football Survey showed

On officiating, 96 per cent of respondents said they support the current high threshold for penalising challenges by on-field officials, while 65 per cent said they want to maintain the threshold for VAR intervention.

The other 35 per cent were split in relation to wanting a higher or a lower threshold.

On VAR, 85 per cent of respondents said they support the continuation of open and transparent communications around VAR.

Some 80 per cent said they would support the use of live audio and footage around refereeing decisions and 68 per cent around VAR reviews.

Some 72 per cent said they supported the use of referee announcements to explain their post-VAR review decision.

Only 43 per cent of respondents to the Premier League football survey would support extending the scope of VAR to review more incidents.

Fewer respondents (37 per cent) support the idea of VAR intervening to change incorrectly awarded corners.

The key theme mentioned when asked about improvements to VAR was around the speed of decisions.

Some 73 per cent said goalkeepers time-wasting was an issue in the Premier League, while 85 per cent said goalkeeper “tactical time-outs” (where a goalkeeper goes down injured, requiring a stop in play, and providing an opportunity for their coach to talk to their players) were an issue.

When asked what was unique about the Premier League and contributed to its success, the survey’s respondents cited elements such as the “speed and intensity”, “physicality”, and "competitiveness" of the competition.

The survey also asked respondents for views on officiating around holding, simulation, handball and challenges on goalkeepers.

These subjects were also discussed by the GIAG – along with the specific red-card sanction for hair-pulling.

What is the Game Improvement Advisory Group?

The Premier League introduced the Game Improvement Advisory Group (GIAG) in 2023, with the aim of advising the League on all aspects of the game; recommending improvements that will enhance the game.

The group meets regularly across the season and is attended by the Premier League’s Football department, PGMO and representatives from clubs.

The GIAG identifies and discusses issues and key points of emphasis where improvements to the game can be made – including the Premier League Football Principles and Refereeing Points of Emphasis.

VAR, participant behaviour and operational matters have also been discussed within the group – with enhancements made to those areas based on the GIAG’s recommendation.

The group also discusses potential law changes from IFAB – informing the Premier League’s stance on proposed amendments.

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