According to PSSI Referee Committee Chairman Yoshimi Ogawa, updated Laws of the Game (LOTG) rules established by the International Football Association Board (IFAB) will take effect for the upcoming Super League 2026/27 season, following an educational workshop held at Menara Mandiri in Jakarta on Thursday, September 3, 2026.
Super League 2026/27 Adopts Updated IFAB Rules to Curtail Time-Wasting
The revised regulations modify 12 out of 17 total articles in the IFAB rulebook. PSSI’s Referee Department organized briefings for club members, coaches, players, and staff ahead of the season to ensure compliance with the updated standards. According to Yoshimi Ogawa, these adjustments prioritize match tempo and flow. “The point is, their attention, tempo and flow of the game must be maintained,” Ogawa stated during a workshop with media members, adding that the changes aim to reduce intentional delays and time-wasting tactics.
Specific Rule Modifications from the World Cup to Domestic Play
NagabolaNews reported that several modifications already tested at the 2026 World Cup will feature in the Indonesian competition. Under Law 3 regarding players, substitutes must leave the pitch within a maximum of 10 seconds once the substitution board goes up, exiting via the nearest boundary line unless hindered by injury or safety concerns. Referees will conduct a visual countdown during the final five seconds by raising a hand. If a replaced player delays exit, the incoming substitute must wait at least one minute of running time before entering.
Additional adjustments target dead-ball situations and medical interventions. According to NagabolaNews, Law 15 and Law 16 dictate that if officials judge a team of intentionally delaying a throw-in or goal kick, a five-second visual countdown applies after a warning. Delays on throw-ins result in possession transferring to the opponent, while delayed goal kicks yield a corner kick for the opposing side. Furthermore, Law 5 mandates that players receiving on-field medical treatment must leave the pitch and wait one minute after play restarts before returning. In a notable scoring rule change, yellow cards for Denial of an Obvious Goal-Scoring Opportunity (DOGSO) are now eliminated if the sequence occurs via an advantage.
Enhanced VAR Protocols and Rigorous Referee Training
Video Assistant Referee (VAR) protocols under Law 5 remain active for clear and obvious errors regarding goals, penalty decisions, direct red cards, and cases of mistaken identity, while also allowing immediate corrections for clearly erroneous corner kick awards that do not delay restarts, as detailed by NagabolaNews. To handle these enhanced technical and physical demands, PSSI conducted intensive training camps from late July through late August for four distinct categories of referees covering the Super League, Championship, Nusantara League, and women’s competitions. Yoshimi Ogawa noted that physical readiness serves as a primary baseline for match officials selected to lead fixtures in the upcoming campaign.
