The World Cup begins this Thursday, June 11 with a tempting Mexico-South Africa match. France will enter the competition on June 16.
By going from 32 to 48 teams, the World Cup regulations introduced the round of 16 and several new refereeing features. Follow the leader.
Eight matches to be champion
Where since 1998 a world crown had been achieved through a series of seven matches – three group matches then a round of 16, quarter-final, semi-final and final – the direct elimination phase now includes one more stage, that of the round of 16.
To reduce the 48 selections entered to 32 in this ax phase, it is not only necessary to qualify the first two of each of the 12 groups – as before with eight groups –, but also eight of the best thirds.
The first of eight groups (A, B, D, E, F, G, I – that of the Blues – and L) will cross these eight best thirds, according to a table comprising… 495 combinations, defined by Fifa in an annex to its regulations.
Yellow cards canceled twice
As a result of this extended competition, yellow cards which did not result in suspension are now canceled twice: at the end of the quarter-finals, as before, but also after the group phase, therefore limiting the management of players warned to three consecutive matches.
New red cards
Reacting at the end of April to two recent controversies – Benfica-Real and the CAN final -, Fifa announced two changes to football laws from the World Cup: any player covering his mouth during a verbal altercation with an opponent will be punished with a red card, the same sanction awaiting players leaving the field to protest a decision arbitration.
Speed up the game
To discourage teams from gaining time, replaced players will have ten seconds to leave the field, otherwise their replacement will have to wait until the first stoppage in play occurring one minute after the change to enter the field.
In addition, a new five-second countdown has been created to perform a touch or clearance at six meters. In the event of an infraction, the throw-in will be reversed, and the six-yard line will turn into a corner.
VAR élargie
The scope of video refereeing is expanded: VAR has until now made it possible to review the action leading to a direct red card, and it will now be possible to reassess a second warning leading to an exclusion. A review may also take place if a corner is wrongly awarded, provided that this intervention does not slow down the resumption of play.
