New Rules Set for Turkish Super League's 2026/2027 Season

The Turkish Football Federation (TFF) is set to introduce a series of new regulations for the Trendyol Super League starting with the 2026/2027 season. These changes aim to streamline gameplay and address contentious issues, drawing inspiration from rules recently applied or modified at the 2026 World Cup.

A significant alteration concerns player substitutions. Once a referee signals for a change, the exiting player must leave the field within 10 seconds. Failure to comply will result in the incoming player being unable to enter the game until one minute after play has restarted. Additionally, players who sustain an injury causing a stoppage in play will be required to remain off the field for one minute after the game resumes, with exceptions for specific circumstances.

To prevent delays in restarting play, a five-second countdown will commence from the moment the referee blows the whistle. Stoppages in throw-ins will result in the throw-in being awarded to the opposing team, while delays in goal kicks will lead to a corner kick for the opposition. These measures are designed to maintain a faster pace of play and reduce time-wasting tactics.

Enhancements are also planned for the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) system. VAR will be empowered to intervene in cases of clearly erroneous second yellow cards leading to a red card, obviously incorrect corner kicks, and violations that occur before a goal or penalty is awarded during a set piece. Furthermore, a player covering their mouth during an incident will be assessed as a yellow card offense. If post-match reviews reveal insulting language, disciplinary action will be taken by the relevant committees.

Finally, cooling breaks will be permitted only when temperatures reach 32 degrees Celsius or above. Referees will ensure that the duration of these breaks does not exceed three minutes per half.