Football rules articles and explainers

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Editorial illustration of a referee holding a yellow card beside a video review monitor — Illustration: Curiosity Desk, created with image-generation tools and reviewed by an editor

World Explained · Football rules

Can VAR review a second yellow card? The 2026/27 rule

VAR may cancel a clearly wrong second yellow that causes a sending-off. It still cannot award a missed second yellow. Here is the 2026/27 rule.

20 July 2026 · 7 min readRead story →

Editorial illustration of a referee holding a yellow card as a penalty shoot-out begins, with a red card still in the pocket — Illustration: Curiosity Desk, created with image-generation tools and reviewed by an editor

World Explained · Football rules

Do yellow cards carry into a World Cup penalty shoot-out?

A caution from normal or extra time does not carry into a penalty shoot-out, but red cards still matter and new misconduct can still be punished.

20 July 2026 · 7 min readRead story →

Editorial illustration of a stopwatch and five footballs leading toward a penalty spot — Illustration: Curiosity Desk, created with image-generation tools and reviewed by an editor

World Explained · Football rules

What happens after 90 minutes in football?

A league match can finish level. A knockout game that needs a winner may use two 15-minute extra-time periods, then penalties. See the World Cup path.

20 July 2026 · 8 min readRead story →

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