UEFA have confirmed a new rule for the 24/25 club competitions, after a successful trial at Euro 2024. The new rules state that only the captain is allowed to speak to the referee regarding decisions, and that other players are not allowed to surround the official in protest.
Doing so allows the referee to show these players a yellow card. Similarly, if a player disobeys their captain’s request to not stand up to the referee, they may also be at risk of a booking.
UEFA confirm new rule after successful trials at Euro 2024
“UEFA EURO 2024 has seen a new policy introduced to shape the relationships between referees and players on the field, enhance communication around referees’ decisions and encourage mutual trust.”
They continued, “The success of this new approach at UEFA EURO 2024, understood by the actors of the game and welcomed by the public opinion as unquestionable progress for the image of football, boosts our confidence that this is the way forward. Fair play and respect are values that football, the most popular game in the world, must convey to our societies.”
In the event that a captain is a goalkeeper, an outfield player must be nominated to speak to the referee when required.
