It’s just 15 days until the new Premier League season kicks off and we at TheSPORTbible cannot wait.
The likelihood of a team like Leicester City winning the league this season is very slim but what we can expect is a great deal of rule changes
After 18 months of talks, IFAB (International Football Association Board) have announced more than 95 altercations to the laws of the game but we thought we’d shortlist 12 major amendments.
Here they are:
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RULE 1 – Kick-off – the ball no longer has to go forward at kick-off.
RULE 2 – Pre-match red cards – Referees will be able to give a player a red card before the match kicks off.
RULE 3 – No ‘triple-punishment law’ – Players committing accidental fouls that deny goal-scoring opportunities in the penalty area will not be automatically sent off.
RULE 4 – Treating injuries – If a player is fouled and hurt by an opponent who subsequently receives a yellow or red card for the challenge, the injured player may be quickly treated on the pitch without the need to leave the field of play.
RULE 5 – Changing boots/equipment – A player who briefly leaves the field (e.g. to change boots) may have his new boots checked by an assistant referee or fourth official before returning to play.
RULE 6 – Penalties – Slowing to a stop immediately before shooting is not allowed, with a yellow card and an indirect free-kick to the opposition the result.
RULE 7 – infringements by substitutes/team officials – If play is stopped due to interference from a team official or substitute, rather than the award of an indirect free-kick or drop ball, the referee will now award a free-kick or penalty kick to the opposition
RULE 8 – Colour of undergarments – Undershorts/tights must be the same colour as the main colour of the shorts or the lowest part of the shorts.
RULE 9 – Offside – The halfway line is neutral, meaning a player must have part of the body (excluding arms or hands) in the opponents’ half to be flagged offside. A free-kick resulting from an offside will now always take place where the offence is committed.
RULE 10 – Handballs – Handball is now a yellow card offence when “it stops/interferes with a promising attack”
RULE 11 – Restarts – Attempts to trick the opposition by lightly tapping the ball at a corner (or free-kick) and then dribbling is coming to an end.
RULE 12 – Player behaviour – Referees have been urged to take a stronger stand on “intolerable behaviour”. Red cards will be issued to players who confront officials and use insulting and/or offensive language or gestures towards them.
thesportbible.com
