Shillong, Jul 17: The new Laws of the Game for 2026-27 will be applied to the Shillong Sports Association’s Shillong Premier League and Second Division in 2026. What exactly are these?
These include the 10-second substitute rule, 5-second restart countdown and off-field injury protocol. Players can also be sent off with a red card if they cover their mouth when communicating with an opponent in a provocative, derisory or inflammatory manner.
Under the substitute rule, a player being substituted off the field has 10 seconds to leave the pitch. If he takes longer, his replacement will be able to enter only at the first stoppage after one full minute of the game clock has passed.
If a player deliberately delays a throw-in or a goal kick, the referee will initiate a visible five-second countdown with a raised hand. If the countdown expires on a throw-in, possession will go to the opposing side. If it expires on a goal kick, the opponents will receive a corner kick, which is similar to an existing practice when the keeper has collected the ball.
Both measures are intended to curb time-wasting and the same is with the new injury protocol.
Here, if play is stopped for a player to receive medical assessment or treatment on the pitch, they must leave the field and remain off for one full minute after play restarts to prevent tactical injury faking. This will not apply to head injuries, severe fouls or injuries to goalkeepers.
The red card for mouth-covering is something that has been seen at the ongoing World Cup and is meant to help detect and stamp out discriminatory abuse.
(Representative image)