The 2025 FIFA Club World Cup is about to get underway with Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami taking on Al Ahly in Sunday’s opening match.
The revamped and expanded competition sees Chelsea and Manchester City bidding to become world champions against the likes of Real Madrid, PSG and Boca Juniors.
To navigate their way to the final in New Jersey on July 13, each team will need their best players available and avoiding any suspensions.
Here’s everything you need to know about the disciplinary rules at the Club World Cup…
How many games do players miss for a yellow card at the Club World Cup?
If a player or member of the coaching staff picks up a yellow card in two separate games, they will be suspended for one game.
However, after the quarter-finals, any yellow cards will be wiped off the record, meaning the only way one can be suspended for the final is to get sent off in the semi-finals.
FIFA have confirmed that no player or official will carry a yellow card into the 2025 Club World Cup.
How many games do players miss for a red card at the Club World Cup?
If a player or member of the coaching staff picks up a red card, either directly or from two yellows, they will be suspended for one game.
However, the FIFA Disciplinary Committee has the power to ban them for more than one game if it believes the offence is serious enough.
Will VAR be used at the Club World Cup?
Like it, loathe it or REALLY loathe it, Video Assistant Referees will be in use at the Club World Cup.
Semi-automated offside technology will also be used but with a twist, as linesman will receive an audio message in their earpiece saying ‘offside, offside’ if one is detected.
Some new rules will be trialled at the tournament including penalising goalkeepers if they do not release the ball eight seconds after claiming it, while ‘double touch’ penalties will be retaken instead of disallowed.
Two English referees, Michael Oliver and Anthony Taylor, and their assistants are among the 117 match officials at the Club World Cup.
