EXCLUSIVE: Former PGMOL boss Hackett looks at 2026/27 season rule changes

Refereeing changes - before a ball is kicked

"Each week throughout the last seven years since the introduction of the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) into the Premier League, I have witnessed the change in officiating. It has promoted doubt and, with it, hesitation in the decision-making process of the referee.

"In the stadium, fans sit waiting in anticipation, sometimes for several minutes, to see if a goal is going to be allowed, and a lack of consistency in the VAR application, and certainly the criteria of 'clear and obvious' taking a back seat from overindulgent operators based at Stockley Park, leaves a sour taste for many.

"On so many occasions I have made comments around the lack of transparency and accountability, because apart from a message on the big screen, the fan sitting in the stadium is left completely in the dark and somewhat detached from the game.

"So, a new season dawns and once again we are promised changes. However, and this is important, some of the changes we saw implemented in the World Cup will still not be used in the Premier League."

VAR - new rules for yellow cards

"From this season, when a player is sent off for their second yellow card offence, the incident can be reviewed by VAR.

"However, VAR can only intervene to determine whether there was a clear error in awarding a foul.

"Subjective judgements regarding the colour of the card to be shown at all will not fall under VAR's jurisdiction."

VAR trial

"A trial has been approved for reviews on attacking fouls before the ball is in play.

"In practice, VAR can step in if there is deemed to be a foul by the attacking side before a set-piece is taken if it directly leads to a goal, penalty or potential red card.

"If a review is upheld, the game would restart with the set-piece in question being retaken as free-kicks cannot be awarded before the ball is in play.

"As a result, VAR will not review defensive fouls before set-pieces are taken, as penalties are also not able to be awarded.

"Similar to the World Cup, VAR will also be used for reviewing potential instances of mistaken identity.

There will be changes to the law's implementation from this summer's tournament, though.

"VAR will not be used to penalise simulation under mistaken identity, though reviews will occur when the referee has penalised the wrong team. For example, if a decision is given against the home team when it was the away side who committed the offence.

"What will VAR not intervene in? There remain two areas where VAR will not be able to intervene despite being able to do so during the World Cup.

"VAR can rule out goals at set-pieces if a foul was committed before the ball was in play, but will not overturn incorrectly awarded corners in the Premier League this season.

"Reviews will also not be used to issue a red card to a player for covering their mouth during confrontational situations. Both instances permitted VAR interventions in North America earlier this summer.

"Howard Webb, the Chief Referee Officer at PROREF (formerly PGMOL), has also stated that parts of the conversation between referees and players will be made available to the media."

Grappling inside the penalty area

"Once again we are promised that referees will clamp down on the nonsense that takes place inside the penalty area at corner kicks. This promise was made before the start of last season, but I did not see any visual signs of an improvement in this area of officiating.

"The holding, pulling and blocking are damaging the image of our great game, and I hope that Webb and his cohort of referees deliver on what he promises. The law changes to assist the flow of the game certainly worked well in the World Cup.

"Webb must ensure that his match officials deliver on his clampdown on ‘grappling’ inside the penalty area. Words to capture media attention and help write headlines are easy to espouse, but mean nothing if they're not acted upon.

"The referee stopping the corner kick from being taken and visually seen to be a warning to players grappling with each other became a joke, quite frankly. We want to watch football, not rugby.

"Make the officials accountable, and when they fail to deliver, then penalise the referees by informing them that they lose an appointment.

"By the way, Mr. Webb, are you happy with the timekeeping in games?"

Throw-ins

"Use of the five-second visual countdown when a player/team is delaying the restart will see the award of the throw-in handed to the opposition if the time is exceeded."

Goal kicks

"The five-second visual countdown when a player/team is delaying the goal kick will see the award of a corner kick to the opposition if the time limit is exceeded."

Corner kicks

"The referee may award a corner kick if the goalkeeper is penalised for holding."