
Credit: Twitter
The new Premier League season is just around the corner, and with it comes some changes to the rules that will affect players, managers, and fans. Football will now see some new rules that will be implemented in the next season. Here is a summary of what they are and how they will impact the action on the pitch.
Offside
The offside rule has been tweaked to prevent attackers from gaining an unfair advantage when a defender touches or plays the ball. Previously, a player who was in an offside position could become onside if an opponent deliberately played the ball, even if it was a mis-hit or a deflection. Now, the rule states that "a player who is clearly offside should not become onside on every occasion when an opponent moves and touches the ball." This means that if a defender makes a clear attempt to play the ball, but fails to do so properly, the attacker will still be flagged offside.
Goalkeeper behaviour at penalties
The penalty shootout drama between Argentina and Colombia at the Copa America, where Emi Martinez taunted and distracted his opponents, has prompted IFAB to clamp down on goalkeeper antics. The rule now states that "the goalkeeper must not try to distract the kicker (e.g. by shouting at them, making gestures or moving excessively)". If the goalkeeper does so, and the penalty is missed or saved, they will be cautioned and the kick will be retaken. If the penalty is scored, the goal will stand and the goalkeeper will be warned.
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Unsporting behaviour
From next season players can avoid being shown a card for unsporting behavior if the referee is certain the defender has made a deliberate attempt to win the ball in a tackle. Its interpretation is where there is uncertainty but according to an analogy by the Mirror, if a player concedes a penalty for denying a goalscoring opportunity, he will not be shown a red card if the match officials believe he attempted to play the ball.
Goal celebrations
Just like FIFA, the Premier League has now told referees involved in the tournament that delays to play caused by goal celebrations and VAR interventions should be added on at the end of each half. This is in line with the directive issued at the Men's World Cup in Qatar last year in which a match was stretched up to an average of 11 minutes.