THE PREMIER LEAGUE returns on Friday as Manchester United take on Fulham at Old Trafford.
And the new season will bring with it a whole host of rule changes as the FA and the International Football Association Board (IFAB) look to try and improve the game.
Here are the seven changes you need to be aware of for the 2024-25 season.
Less added time
Last year rule changes saw more additional time added on to punish time wasting, but this saw the duration of games skyrocket over the first half of the season.
That was informally phased away as the season went on, with the regular two minutes at the end of the first half and four or five minutes at the end of the second half becoming commonplace.
To stop games going on for an excessive duration, only 30 seconds will be added on now when a goal is scored, to account for players making their way back to their own half.
The Premier League said it is expecting this adjustment will cause a “significant drop” in the amount of additional time this season.
More subs allowed to warm up
Expect busier touchlines with more players now being allowed to warm-up at once.
Previously only three players were allowed to warm-up on the touchline at one time – that has been increased now to five.
The change for this campaign corresponds with teams being able to make five substitutions at any period.
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Ball boys/girls allowed to be more active
Due to Covid-19 protocols, ball boys had been replaced by 10 balls placed on cones around the pitch to help prevent the spread of the virus.
After the easing of lockdowns around the world, ball boys/girls were allowed to return, but were still only limited to placing balls back down on cones to then be picked up by players.
Ball boys/girls will now be allowed to play a more active role in throwing the ball back to keepers on goal-kicks.
Outfield players will still have to pick up a ball from a cone though.
More concussion substitutions
Clubs will be allowed additional concussion substitutions under new guidelines.
The move has been brought in to help protect the health of players.
Change to encroachment on penalties
The FA have stipulated that “encroachment by players will be penalised only if it has an impact” meaning that those who run into the box during a spot kick, but are not seen to have affected the game, will not be penalised.
Penalty ball position
The Premier League have sought to clarify what position the ball should be on the penalty spot.
The new rules state: “Part of the ball must touch or overhang the centre of the penalty mark” during a spot kick.
Fewer ‘soft’ handball pens
New rules will attempt to stop so many penalties being given for ‘soft’ handballs.
Referees will be allowed to be more lenient on non-deliberate handballs and yellow cards will no longer be automatically given for a pen resulting from a handball.
