The Documents section of the official Ukrainian Premier League website has been updated with the current regulatory documents: the IFAB Laws of the Game 2026/27 and Changes to the Laws of the Game 2026/27. Both documents are available in Ukrainian.

For reference, we present a brief summary of the changes to the Laws of the Game that came into force on 1 July 2026.

Law 3 — The Players

The number of substitutes permitted in senior “A” international team friendly matches has been increased to eight, or to eleven if both teams agree and inform the referee in advance. The restriction of three substitution opportunities per team remains in place.

A ten-second time limit has been introduced for a player to leave the field of play when being substituted. If the player exceeds this limit, the substitute may not enter the field until the first stoppage after one minute has elapsed.

Law 4 — The Players’ Equipment

Accessories are permitted provided they are not dangerous and are safely and securely covered.

Law 5 — The Referee

Competitions may use technology to assist the referee in making or changing decisions in relation to the video assistant referee (VAR) protocol, determining whether the ball is in or out of play, including goal line technology (GLT), and determining offside, including semi-automated offside technology (SAOT).

It has been clarified that advantage may be applied when a restart is taken incorrectly and the ball is in play.

With certain exceptions, players who receive medical assessment or treatment on the field of play, or whose injury causes play to be stopped, must leave the field and remain off it for one minute after play has restarted.

VAR may review:

• a red card resulting from a clearly incorrect second yellow card;
• a case of mistaken identity where a player is shown a red or yellow card but the offence was committed by another player from either team;
• a clearly incorrectly awarded corner kick, provided the decision can be corrected immediately and without delaying the restart of play (competition option).

Competition organisers may provide referees, assistant referees and fourth officials with body cameras.

Accessories may be used provided they do not pose a danger.

Law 6 — The Other Match Officials

The list of incidents that may be reviewed by VAR has been expanded.

Law 8 — The Start and Restart of Play

The wording relating to a dropped ball has been amended to clarify that the team which “would have gained possession” also includes the team that would have taken the restart if the ball had gone out of play.

Where play is stopped because of interference by a match official or an outside agent, the ball is dropped at the position where the interference occurred.

Law 10 — Determining the Outcome of a Match

Circular No. 31 concerning accidental double touches during penalties (penalty shoot-out) has been incorporated into the Laws.

The automatic caution (yellow card) for the kicker has been removed in cases where the kicker and goalkeeper commit an offence at the same time.

Law 12 — Fouls and Misconduct

There is no caution (yellow card) for a denial of an obvious goal-scoring opportunity (DOGSO) offence if the referee applies advantage and the attacking team scores a goal.

The location and number of attackers have been added to the factors that must be considered when determining whether a DOGSO offence has occurred.

Law 14 — The Penalty Kick

Circular No. 31 concerning accidental double touches when taking a penalty kick has been incorporated into the Laws.

The automatic caution (yellow card) for the kicker has been removed in cases where the kicker and goalkeeper commit an offence at the same time.

Law 15 — The Throw-in

A five-second visual countdown will be used when a player or team delays the taking of a throw-in. If the time limit is exceeded, the throw-in is awarded to the opposing team.

Law 16 — The Goal Kick

A five-second visual countdown will be used when a player or team delays the taking of a goal kick. If the time limit is exceeded, a corner kick is awarded to the opposing team.

Video Assistant Referee (VAR) Protocol

Red cards resulting from a clearly incorrect second yellow card may be reviewed.

A mistaken-identity decision may be reviewed if a player is shown a yellow or red card but the offence for which the card was shown was committed by another player from either team.

Competitions may also allow reviews of clearly incorrectly awarded corner kicks, provided the decision can be corrected immediately and without delaying the restart of play.