Starting from the 2026/27 season, several changes have been made to the Game Regulations and VAR Protocol.

According to Offsideplus.az, the latest changes have been communicated to media representatives by the AFFA Referees Department and the Referees Committee.

In accordance with UEFA guidelines, steps have been taken to prevent time-wasting. Specifically, a substituted player must leave the pitch within 10 seconds after the substitution board is shown or after the referee signals for the substitution if no board is present.

If the player does not leave the pitch within that 10 seconds (except in cases where it is impossible to exit due to safety concerns or injury), they must leave the field, but they cannot re-enter until the first stoppage of play that occurs after one minute of the match clock being restarted following the entry of the substitute.

Additionally, to prevent delays in the resumption of play, the referee now has the authority to penalise the team in the following situations:

By awarding a free kick to the opposing team for delaying the restart from the sideline;
By awarding a corner kick to the opposing team for delaying the goal kick.

This is considered a sufficient penalty if the actions of the player(s) causing the delay are not excessive and do not ultimately delay the opponent's restart from the sideline or corner kick.

Unlike FIFA, UEFA may consider deliberately covering the mouth to conceal communication as unsporting behaviour/yellow card (only in cases of confrontation, reaction, etc.).