Spain scraps 'Vinicius rule' in new La Liga referee guidelines

Spain’s La Liga has introduced new referee guidelines for the 2024-25 season aimed at reducing time-wasting and increasing active playing time. Substitutes will not be allowed to enter immediately when a substituted player fails to leave the field within 10 seconds; the replacement will enter at the first stoppage after one minute of play. The guidelines also require players suspected of feigning injury to leave the field. They may return one minute after the next stoppage. Referees will monitor goalkeeper injuries, with the team captain facing dismissal if the coach does not remove a player within 10 seconds after an injury is judged to be feigned. The Spanish Referees Committee has decided not to apply in domestic leagues a rule that would mandate a red card when a player covers their mouth while speaking to an opponent. The provision had been referred to in the media as the “Vinicius rule.” The committee said covering the mouth alone should not result in expulsion, noting that referees cannot easily determine the content of a conversation.