With the Premier League kick-off fast approaching, here's what's new for the 2024/25 season.
Changes to Laws
As well as changes in Premier League rules for this season, there have also been some tweaks made to the Laws of the Game by the International Football Association Board (IFAB).
Firstly, in Law 12 on fouls and misconduct, there is a clarification introduced 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.
In short, referees will not automatically show a yellow card to players who have handled the ball and conceded a penalty.
Then around the penalty kick itself, or Law 14, a couple of changes have been made.
Firstly, there is a clarification that when the penalty-taker places the ball, part of the ball must touch or overhang the centre of the penalty mark.
Secondly, encroachment by players at the moment the penalty is taken will be penalised only if it has an impact, following the same philosophy as goalkeeper encroachment at a kick.
So, for a defender, his encroachment will be relevant only if he either has an impact on the kicker or, in the event that the ball rebounds into play, prevents a goal or prevents a goalscoring chance.
For an attacker, his encroachment is relevant only if he impacts or distracts the goalkeeper, scores a goal or creates a goalscoring chance.
The encroachment at a restart such as a penalty is determined by the feet or any part of the player’s body that is touching the ground.
