​A controversial moment in Norway’s World Cup quarter-final against England saw a second-half goal disallowed, altering the trajectory of the match. Torbjorn Heggem appeared to give Norway a 2-1 lead, only for referee Clement Turpin to overturn the decision after a VAR check revealed a push by Erling Haaland on Elliot Anderson in the buildup. Norway argued that the call was incorrect, but the revised regulations introduced at this year’s World Cup support the ruling.
This summer’s tournament featured several new rules aimed at clarifying and tightening officiating. One notable change concerns fouls that occur before the ball is in play from a corner situation. Under the new IFAB rule, if a foul happens prior to the ball becoming live, the corner must be retaken. In this instance, Haaland’s push happened before the corner was taken, necessitating a restart rather than allowing play to continue as initially signaled. The decision highlights how the introduced rule is intended to be applied in real match scenarios to maintain fairness in set-piece situations.
Another new regulation related to corners stipulates that if a goalkeeper takes longer than five seconds to restart play after a corner is awarded, the opposing side is granted a corner kick. This measure is designed to maintain the tempo of the game and prevent deliberate delays from goalkeepers which can disrupt the flow of play. The aim is to keep matches more dynamic and reduce time-wasting around set-piece situations.
Beyond these changes, additional rules were introduced to address on-field conduct and sportsmanship. For example, a “covering the mouth” rule has been implemented: players who speak while covering their mouth are subject to a red card sanction. This rule seeks to curb signs of dissent and to ensure clear communication among players and officials. Other measures focus on substitutions and player departures from the field. There are penalties for taking too long to come off the pitch when substitutes are made, as well as guidelines addressing players going down for tactical reasons. These provisions collectively reflect FIFA’s and IFAB’s ongoing effort to streamline officiating, curb time-wasting, and promote fair play across all levels of competition.