Canada Soccer confirmed it received permission from the International Football Association Board (IFAB) to implement the 2019-20 Laws of the Game for this year’s Canadian Championship.

In addition, the Canadian Premier League will implement a list of changes the IFAB approved earlier this month.

The changes are as follows:

• A more precise and detailed definition of what constitutes a handball;
• A player being substituted now must leave the field at the nearest boundary line;
• Yellow and red cards can now be issued for misconduct by team officials;
• The ball no longer has to leave the penalty area on goal kicks and defending team free kicks;
• Measures will be taken to deal with attacking players causing problems in the defensive “wall,” including requiring attacking players to keep a distance of one metre;
• Changing the dropped ball procedure;
• Giving a dropped ball in certain situations when the ball hits the referee;
• The goalkeeper only being required to have one foot on the goal line during a penalty kick attempt.

Canadian Premier League players and staff will be introduced to the new Laws upon gathering in the Dominican Republic next month for the continuation of preseason.