Premier League
IFAB Proposes New Penalty and VAR Adjustments Ahead of 2026 World Cup
IFAB considers new rules on penalties and VAR to refine football ahead of the 2026 World Cup.
The International Football Association Board (IFAB) is considering rule changes that could reshape some key aspects of football before the 2026 World Cup. These proposals, while not revolutionary, aim to address ongoing concerns about fairness and officiating in the sport.
One of the most significant changes IFAB is exploring relates to penalty kicks. Currently, after a goalkeeper saves a penalty, the attacking team can attempt to score from any rebound. IFAB’s potential new rule would declare the ball “dead” immediately after the goalkeeper makes a save, removing the chance for follow-up attempts. This would isolate penalties as single, decisive moments, also eliminating disputes related to players encroaching in the penalty area during kicks.
In addition to the penalty modifications, IFAB is reviewing the scope of the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) system. Presently, VAR can intervene only in cases involving goals, penalties, and direct red cards. IFAB is considering expanding this to include other critical decisions such as corners and second yellow cards, thereby giving VAR greater influence over game-defining moments.
While these proposed adjustments have not found universal approval—UEFA has already expressed reservations—they underscore the ongoing evolution of football rules. The goal remains to refine the game without complicating its fundamental simplicity, famously noted by Liverpool legend Bill Shankly: “football is a simple game complicated by idiots.”
These ideas will be closely watched as football prepares for one of its biggest global stages.
Arsenal
Arteta sees Saliba return as a solution, not a selection issue
Arteta says Arsenal’s centre-back depth is a luxury, not a problem, as Saliba nears his return.
Mikel Arteta does not view Arsenal’s growing options at centre back as a concern. Instead, he believes the return of William Saliba, alongside Gabriel and Ezri Konsa, gives the squad a chance to manage the season more effectively.
Konsa, who started most of England’s run to a third-place finish at the tournament, was signed in August with the understanding that Saliba would be unavailable for several months. Since then, he has settled into the Arsenal line-up and has been consistently reliable.
Speaking to reporters on Tuesday after Arsenal arrived in Czechia for their Champions League meeting with Slavia Prague, Arteta suggested Saliba is now close to being available whenever the manager chooses to call on him.
“He’s in, and he’s in like anybody else,” Arteta explained. “All the preparation has been done to measure all the loads and all the steps that he had to do to minimize that risk. Now he’s in a really good place. He’s built the capacity that we needed and now it’s about giving him minutes.
“A center back normally has to be able to play 90 minutes and that’s why all the preparation that we’ve done to build him.” Saliba himself, Arteta said, is “very desperate” to get back and will have the “right amount of minutes very soon.”
For Saliba to regain his place, one of Gabriel or Konsa would need to step aside. Arteta said that having all three available is a “luxury” Arsenal have not enjoyed earlier in the season.
“I wouldn’t call it a problem,” he said. “We can talk about problems that are very different to that one.”
Arteta has long spoken about the physical strain placed on players across four club competitions, plus international commitments. He believes a deeper pool at centre back can help Arsenal rotate more intelligently and handle the demands of the schedule with greater control.
Manchester United
Baleba injury compounds United’s mixed night against Roma
Baleba’s injury clouded United’s Roma win, even as Fernandes and Cunha turned the match around.
Manchester United’s Champions League meeting with Roma on Tuesday delivered both relief and concern, with Carlos Baleba’s latest injury casting a shadow over a comeback win.
Baleba, who had already missed the beginning of the season because of an ankle problem, went down in clear discomfort after driving forward in the second half. He was holding his hamstring before dropping to the turf, prompting immediate treatment from medical staff on the pitch. The summer signing looked emotional before he was withdrawn in the 51st minute and replaced by Youri Tielemans.
The setback only deepened the frustration around a player who has made just six appearances for the club since arriving from Brighton & Hove Albion. Michael Carrick is expected to offer an update on the injury in the coming hours.
Even so, United found a way through. Bruno Fernandes levelled matters from the spot after being given a second attempt at his penalty when encroachment forced a retake of the saved effort. Later, Matheus Cunha struck twice to complete a 3-2 victory for the hosts and keep the match from slipping away.
The result offered a rare lift in a difficult spell, but the broader picture remains bleak. Carrick has been managing a depleted squad for some time, with Benjamin Šeško, Luke Shaw, Patrick Dorgu and Manuel Ugarte still out with long-term issues. Kobbie Mainoo has only just returned, while Marcus Rashford and Lisandro Martínez have also spent time in the infirmary.
That injury situation, combined with an underwhelming summer transfer window, has left United short on depth during an important run of fixtures. Before the visit of Roma, they had not won a single game in that stretch.
Manchester United
Baleba setback deepens Manchester United’s injury crisis
Baleba’s injury against Roma added to a growing Manchester United crisis and thin squad.
Manchester United’s difficult run took another hit on Tuesday when Carlos Baleba picked up what appeared to be a serious injury in the Champions League meeting with Roma.
The summer signing, who had already missed the opening stretch of the campaign because of an ankle problem, looked in clear distress after pushing forward on a run in the second half. He was seen clutching his hamstring before going to the turf, and the concern around him was obvious.
Medical staff treated him on the pitch, and Baleba seemed emotional before he was withdrawn in the 51st minute and replaced by Youri Tielemans. Michael Carrick is expected to offer a fuller assessment after the final whistle.
It is a bitter blow for a player who has made only six appearances in a red shirt since arriving from Brighton & Hove Albion, but the wider impact on United may be even greater.
Carrick is already dealing with a long list of absentees. Benjamin Šeško, Luke Shaw, Patrick Dorgu and Manuel Ugarte are all still sidelined with longer-term problems, while Kobbie Mainoo has only just returned after his own spell out. Marcus Rashford and Lisandro Martínez have also spent time in the infirmary.
That depleted squad has been stretched further by an underwhelming summer transfer window, leaving Carrick short of options during a demanding run of fixtures. The result has been a club unable to find a win in any of those matches, with the injury picture continuing to undermine any attempt to build momentum.
