Sunderland fans can expect significant changes to refereeing guidelines for the 2026/27 season, including new rules on hair pulling, time-wasting, and VAR expansion. The Premier League has set new refereeing guidelines and law tweaks for the upcoming season, covering hair pulls, time-wasting, set plays, and a limited VAR expansion. Sunderland Echo reports that the league consulted stakeholders through its end-of-season survey, informing a Game Improvement Advisory Group of representatives from the division, PGMO, and top-tier clubs. The new guidelines aim to reduce hair pulling, with a yellow card now given for hair pulling that is not judged to involve excessive force or brutality. A red card will only be shown for a clear, deliberate pull with excessive force or brutality. The threshold for violent conduct has been raised, and officials will continue to take a restrained approach to handball, with a stronger focus on penalising holding at set plays. There will also be greater punishment for blocks that prevent a goalkeeper moving towards the ball, aimed at curbing grappling and set piece dominance. Players who receive treatment must now leave the field for at least one minute, doubling previous guidance. A five-second countdown will apply to deliberate delays at goal kicks and throw-ins, with the opposition awarded the restart, and a corner if the delay was at a goal kick. There is a 10-second limit for players to leave the pitch during substitutions, otherwise the incoming player must wait one minute after play restarts. VAR can now review when a second yellow results in a red, but will not intervene for potential second yellows, and the league has not adopted optional scope increases such as checking wrongly awarded corners.