Updates for the season 2024/25

Effective Playing Time Managing Momentum

9 Sep 2024

The 2024/2025 Premier League season will kickoff with new laws in place to increase the effectiveness of the game.

In association with International Football Association Board (IFAB) guidance to enhance effective playing time, referees will manage the momentum of matches through treatment methods for injured players.

Players who require assessment on the pitch for a potential injury will receive treatment off the field of play - apart from in certain circumstances laid out in the Laws of the Game. After the restart of play, a period of time will be afforded for the player to be treated. The player will not return to the pitch before this.

This approach promotes player safety, minimises any delay to the restart of the game and creates a deterrent to players who request attention as a tactic to waste time or break the momentum of the game.

Return to the pitch requires the referee's permission. Return to the pitch may be delayed if the phase of play is in the vicinity of the player who is returning.

In circumstances where the player declines the doctor/physio, if the player or team-mate clearly delays or refuses to restart the game they will be issued a yellow card.

The exceptions to the new guidelines are:

-If a goalkeeper is injured
-A player is injured as the result of a physical offence for which the opponent is cautioned or sent off
-A penalty has been awarded and the injured player will be the taker
-A goalkeeper and an outfield player have collided and need attention
-Players from the same team have collided and need attention

Principle

-Following their removal from the pitch and after the restart of play, a period of time will be afforded for the player to be treated.
-Return to the pitch requires the referee’s permission.

Referee to ask player: 1. “Do you require assistance from the doctor/physio?” -“No”- Play is restarted, player remains on the pitch -Teammate of player down clearly delays taking restart.

“Yes” / No response = 2. Referee signals for doctor/physio to enter pitch - Doctor/physio enters the pitch

3. Doctor/physio completes assessment - Player leaves the pitch

4.Player remains on touchline for treatment

5.Player returns to pitch following confirmation from referee/fourth official

Contents:

VAR
VAR Improvement Plan
Decision-making process
What VAR cannot do
Threshold for VAR intervention
Attacking Possession Phase
Semi-Automated Offside Technology

Participant Behaviour Charter
Context for Change
Core Principles
Regulatory

Updates for Season 2024/25
Effective Playing Time – Allowance for time lost
Effective Playing Time – Calculation of Additional Time
Effective Playing Time – Delaying the restart
Handball – Interpretation
Holding
Blocking
Denying a goal or an obvious goal scoring opportunity
Penalty kicks
IFAB Trial