Feature

What's new in 2019/20: Laws for substitutions

19 Jul 2019

Updated Laws of the Game mean players must now leave the pitch by the shortest possible route, to avoid time-wasting

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Ahead of the 2019/20 season, we look at the new things to keep an eye out for in the Premier League.

The International Football Association Board (IFAB) have updated the Laws of the Game, and we are examining what has changed.

Substitutions

Liverpool and Norwich City are likely to be be the first teams to implement a new protocol for substitutions when the 2019/20 Premier League season gets under way on Friday 9 August.

In order to minimise the potential for time-wasting, any player being substituted must leave the pitch at the nearest point on the touchline or goalline.

The only exception will be if the referee indicates that the player can leave quickly at the halfway line or a different point because of a safety or security issue, or due to injury.

Once substituted, the player must go to either the technical area or dressing room to avoid problems with substitutes, spectators or the match officials.

If they are thought to have infringed the spirit of this law and delayed the restart of play, they will be sanctioned for unsporting behaviour.

See: What's new in 2019/20?

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