Clubs from the Brazilian Serie A and B have approved a new package of rules to combat time-wasting and increase effective playing time, starting this coming weekend.
In a historic decision aimed at elevating the standard of national football, clubs from the Brazilian Serie A and B ratified on Monday (10) a set of rigorous measures to curb time-wasting. The package, which takes effect immediately in the next round, anticipates guidelines that were only planned for 2028 by FIFA, demonstrating the CBF‘s commitment to making matches more dynamic.
The move directly addresses the low effective playing time. Data from the confederation indicates that the Brazilian Serie A had an average of only 52 minutes and 54 seconds of ball-in-play time, far from the ideal target of 60 minutes. With the implementation of the new rules, the entity expects to recover more than six minutes of effective playing time per match.
Structural Changes and Focus on Fluidity
Among the most impactful changes, medical assistance has new guidelines. If a goalkeeper requires on-field assistance, the team must withdraw an outfield player for one minute. Furthermore, the attended player himself will have to wait one minute off the field before resuming their position. Timed measures have also been set: five seconds for goal kicks and throw-ins, and ten seconds for substitutions.
Netto Góes, CBF‘s head of refereeing, stated:
We started with data to understand where the main interruptions are and what we can do to improve the game. The study shows there is room to recover more than six minutes of ball-in-play time per match, and our job is to transform this diagnosis into concrete actions.
Vini Junior Protocol and New Refereeing Guidelines
The package also includes significant disciplinary changes. The most notable is the so-called “Vini Junior Law,” which mandates direct expulsion for any player who covers their mouth while arguing with opponents or referees. Additionally, dialogue with the referee will be restricted exclusively to the team captain, aiming to reduce huddles of complaints and emotional wear and tear during matches.
The M360 team highlights that VAR will also have an expanded role, including the review of yellow cards that result in an expulsion. These changes promise to alter the tactical landscape of the tournament, requiring teams and players to quickly adapt to a much faster game pace and severe penalties for any attempt to delay the restart of play.
M360 Team
