Any player guilty of a red-card offence will automatically be sent off for the rest of the game with no replacement, and a penalty kick awarded to the opposition. A tribunal hearing will decide any further penalty, with a minimum of a one-match suspension for any guilty verdict.

Any player guilty of a yellow-card offence will be sent off for 15 minutes, with a replacement allowed. If a player receives two yellow cards, he will be sent off for the rest of the game with no replacement. There will be no penalty kick in either of these circumstances. Again a tribunal hearing will determine any further penalty.

The distance a player is allowed to travel before playing the ball has been reduced from 15 metres to 10 metres.

The length of playing time in the four quarters has been reduced from 20 minutes to 18 minutes, with the break between the first/second and third/fourth quarters increased from five to six minutes. The half-time break remains at 15 minutes.

Each country will now appoint two referees rather than one, with the second one acting as a linesman and wired up to the on-field referee by radio.

The number of players allowed on the sideline is reduced to immediate replacements, with the main body of players restricted to the dugout.

The number of interchange players is reduced from eight to seven, but with no restriction on their use.

Late tackling, high tackling, the holding down on the ground of opponents, and other such fouls are to be more severely refereed.

The referees will travel out a week before the touring part to ensure a full consultation process on the referees from the opposing association.