EPL rule tweaks for 2024/25 season

Oggiman

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The video assistant referee system will have a higher bar for intervening than before.

The "referee’s call" means that the VAR should only intervene if they can "see without any doubt the on-pitch official has made a clear mistake".

Otherwise the initial decision will stand. That means fewer stoppages for marginal decisions to be repeatedly rewatched.

The PL Match Centre account holders on social media platform X will post "near-live" explanations of VAR decisions.

It plans to show more replays and explain decisions on the big screens in stadiums, too.

We will see a significant drop in stoppage time this season - because of a change in timing goal celebrations.

Until now time was added on for every second between the ball hitting the net and the kick-off being taken.

Now the clock will only be started after 30 seconds. So a game with six goals would have three minutes less of stoppage time.

Away from VAR, attacking players blocking or obstructing opposition players at a set-piece will be penalised more strictly.

The handball law will be relaxed a little. Players have been told by the Premier League they do not have to move with their arms rigidly by their sides or behind their backs.

The position of their arm or hand will be judged in relation to the movement of their body.

Meanwhile, a non-deliberate handball that leads to a penalty will no longer be an automatic booking offence.

During penalties the ball must be on or hanging over the centre of the penalty spot, rather than at any point on the spot.

Encroachment by players into the box when the penalty is taken will only be penalised if it has an impact.

That means if an opposition player has an impact on the kicker or prevents a goal or chance from a rebound.

If it is a penalty taker's team-mate, the encroachment is relevant if they impact or distract the goalkeeper, scores or creates a chance.

Ball boys and girls will be allowed to give a ball to a goalkeeper to take a restart, instead of the keeper having to pick it up off a cone. The multiball system - picking the ball off a cone - will remain for outfield players.

One more tiny change - five substitutes can warm up at the same time on the touchline, up from three.

There will be a new ball this season, the Nike Flight, which is "built with Aerowsculpt technology with grooves debased into the casing, to allow air to travel seamlessly around the ball, delivering truer flight".
 
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