# Soccer: FIFA’s board has approved several rule changes for the World Cup in the US, Mexico and Canada. The rules include five-second countdowns for throw-ins and goal-kicks, red cards for players covering their mouths during confrontations, punishments for teams walking off the pitch in protest, and mandatory one-minute off-field treatment periods. There will also be a mandatory three-minute hydration break in each half. Video assistant referees will also have new powers, including intervening for wrongly-awarded second yellow cards, mistaken identity incidents and incorrectly-awarded corner kicks.
Soccer: A raft of rule changes are approved for the upcoming World Cup