The English Premier League (EPL) has announced a series of new rules set to take effect in the upcoming 2024/25 football season.
As the domestic league games kick off on Friday, August 16, 2024, with the opening match between Manchester United and Fulham, fans and teams alike can expect significant changes in how the game is played and officiated.
In an official statement released on Thursday, the EPL revealed, "There will be a difference this campaign in how match officials will be applying the rules of the game."
Substitutes Warming Up:
One of the notable changes pertains to the number of substitutes allowed to warm up during a match. While the rule permitting five substitutions per game remains unchanged from the previous season, the number of players allowed to warm up simultaneously has increased.
The statement clarified, "The number of substitutes allowed to warm up at the same time on the perimeter of the pitch during a match has gone up from three to five players per team. This is to correspond with the fact that teams are able to make five substitutions at any one time."
Introduction of the Multiball System:
Another major change for the 2024/25 season is the introduction of the multiball system, aimed at speeding up the pace of the game. The new system will see 15 balls in use throughout each match.
The EPL stated, "When the match ball goes out of play and is not quickly retrievable, players must go to the nearest cone to collect a replacement ball themselves to restart play." Importantly, "ball assistants are not permitted to return a ball to a player but should return it to a vacant cone." However, an exception has been made for goalkeepers, as "the ball assistants positioned behind the goals at the end where the ball goes out are allowed to return a ball to the goalkeeper who will take the restart."
The league also warned that any deliberate attempt by club technical area staff to delay the restart of play, such as holding onto the ball or kicking it away, will result in a send-off by the referee. Players engaging in similar actions within the technical area will be issued a yellow card.
More Accurate Calculation of Added Time:
A significant change in timekeeping has also been introduced. "From this season, when a goal is scored, match officials will only start adding time on to the end of the match when the delay between the goal and the subsequent kick-off exceeds 30 seconds," the statement noted. This adjustment is expected to reduce stoppage time, as teams are now given natural time to resume their restart positions.
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