A new Premier League season is fast approaching with the chance for Arsenal to try again at claiming a first league title in more than two decades. The Gunners came within just two points of the accomplishment last time out and will be raring to get to grips with silverware while both Chelsea and Tottenham are looking to climb back into the league’s top four.
With a new campaign comes a number of new and updated rules to be implemented. The league has seen plenty of changes in recent seasons, from the introduction of video assistant referees (VAR) and the expansion of substitutes from three to five.
New rules this season, however, are more subtle and without being informed, they might even go unnoticed. Of course, rules can change during the season and one which is expected is the introduction of semi-automatic offsides, although this will have to wait until after one of the first two international breaks.
Coming in as of this weekend is a change to the added time rules. Last season saw large amounts of minutes added on at the end of games and to try and remedy this, goal celebrations will be accounted for differently.
Teams will be allowed 30 seconds after a goal is scored to get back into position; any time over this will be added to the additional time by officials. All three London clubs will need to look at utilising this time for their own goal celebrations.
For Arsenal, Bukayo Saka famously would celebrate with teammate Emile Smith Rowe. However, with the latter now having left for Fulham, the Gunners winger will need to find a new partner to celebrate with on a more regular occasion. Perhaps England teammate Declan Rice will fill the void?
IFAB has updated the laws for fouls and misconduct to the following: Clarification that non-deliberate handball offences for which penalties are awarded are to be sanctioned in the same way as fouls which are an attempt to play the ball or a challenge for the ball.
On the other hand, penalty kicks must see the ball either touch or overhang the centre of the penalty spot before being taken. Meanwhile, encroachment during penalty situations will only be penalised if it has an impact, such as an encroaching player scoring a rebound.
How team news is released has also changed. Teams will now be able to release their line-ups publicly 75 minutes before kick-off as opposed to the previous allotted time of one hour – you will see this reflected in our football.london matchday blogs.
In line with the expansion of substitutions from three to five, now teams will be able to have five substitutes warm up on the touchline at once as opposed to the previous three. Also ball assistants positioned behind the goals can return the ball directly to the goalkeeper as opposed to a nearby cone – players and coaches delaying restarts from the technical area will be given yellow and red cards for infringements respectively.
