Gasperini satisfied with new referee rules after Serie A Round 1

Gasperini satisfied with new referee rules after Serie A Round 1

Roma coach Gian Piero Gasperini expressed his satisfaction with the new referee rules applied during Serie A Round 1, which could signal a radical change in the league and Italian football.

Serie A is, perhaps mistakenly, known for its defensive and tactically focused nature, which sometimes results in low-scoring matches, as experts in  crypto gambling casinos are well aware of. The new campaign, however, could offer a switch and a new way of playing football in Serie A, with fewer interruptions, shorter breaks, and, ultimately, a definitive attempt to tackle time-wasting.

ROME, ITALY – AUGUST 24: Donyell Malen with Paulo Dybala and Wesley Franca of AS Roma celebrates during the Serie A match between AS Roma and ACF Fiorentina at Stadio Olimpico on August 24, 2026 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Paolo Bruno/Getty Images)

Some of the new rules for 2026-27, in fact, will technically increase the effective playing time and reduce the breaks’ length. As we saw in the World Cup this summer, if a goalkeeper fails to take a goal kick within five seconds, then the opposing team earns a corner kick. The same principle applies to throw-ins: if they are not taken within five seconds, they are overturned.

If the game is stopped because a player is on the floor, he’ll have to remain one minute out of the field, regardless of whether he receives medical attention or not.

Last but not least, a player will have 10 seconds to leave the pitch when subbed off; otherwise, his replacement won’t be allowed to take to the field before one minute has elapsed.

PISA, ITALY – MARCH 2: General view of the VAR monitor inside the Arena Garibaldi stadium in Pisa during the Serie A match between Pisa SC and Bologna FC 1909 at Arena Garibaldi on March 2, 2026 in Pisa, Italy. (Photo by Gabriele Maltinti/Getty Images)

There is news for VAR too. Referees, in fact, will be allowed to review incidents that could lead to a second yellow card, not just straight red cards. This means that if a player unfairly receives a second yellow, the incident can now be reviewed, and the same applies to a player who is already booked and commits a second-bookable offence.

Quick checks for corner kicks will be managed by the VAR room to ensure the correct awarding of corner kicks or to determine if a goal kick should be given instead.

NEWPORT, WALES – AUGUST 04: Gian Piero Gasperini, Head Coach of AS Roma, looks on before the pre-season friendly match between Newport County and AS Roma at Rodney Parade on August 04, 2026 in Newport, Wales. (Photo by Dan Istitene/Getty Images)

Questioned on these new referee rules on Monday, after his Roma side beat Fiorentina 4-0, Gasperini replied (via Corriere dello Sport ): “Do I like them? A lot!

“The fans benefit from it, because they used to watch terribly boring games. The goalkeeper used to be the player who had the most touches. Those are excellent rules, even the one that forces a player to stay out for a minute. You didn’t see anyone lying down and making drama. They all get up. Those rules were really very well thought out; the fans want to see the game and not people wasting time.”

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