5 New Premier League Rules Being Introduced Next Season

5 New Premier League Rules Being Introduced Next Season

Fred Kennedy
updated at July 11, 2023 at 8:09 AM
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  • At least five new rules were introduced ahead of the 2023/24 Premier League season
  • These rules for the league include a significant change to the controversial offside law
  • The new Premier League campaign is scheduled to kick off again on August 14 this year

A set of new rules and guidelines are set to be introduced in the Premier League next season.

There is a little over a month left before the 2023/24 season kicks off, with the campaign scheduled to get underway in August.

Referee Mike Dean checks the VAR pitchside monitor during the Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City. Photo by Clive Rose.
Referee Mike Dean checks the VAR pitchside monitor during the Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City. Photo by Clive Rose.
Source: Getty Images

The Premier League fixture schedule has already been published, with a number of mouthwatering EPL matches set to headline the opening weekend, as Sports Brief reported.

According to Sky Sports, reigning champions, Manchester City face a reunion with Vincent Kompany as they kick off the 2023/24 Premier League season away at Burnley on August 11.

The publication reports the campaign will conclude on the weekend of May 19 next year, with Man City vs West Ham United and Arsenal vs Everton among the fixtures to be played.

However, all of these will happen under a new set of rules which will be implemented at the start of the season.

EPL rules for next season

Sportbible reports that next season will look a little different, with four new rules taking effect from August. The new guidelines have been set by the International Football Association Board, the body mandated to make rules.

Key among the new rules is a 'greater allowance' for time lost due to goal celebrations. As such, there is a possibility of more time being added on at the end of each half if teams take longer to celebrate after scoring.

Secondly, as is now the case, goalkeepers will no longer be able to cause any form of distraction to penalty takers when spot kicks are awarded, perhaps due to Emiliano Martinez's antics.

Thirdly, reserve assistant referees on the sidelines will now equally have increased participation, receiving equal support and assistance as the primary on-field officials, commonly known as the 'man in the middle'.

The fourth new guideline is that players can now avoid being yellow-carded for 'unsporting behaviour' if they are making a deliberate attempt to play the ball.

Lastly, there is the change to the controversial offside law. Under the new guidelines, a player who is 'clearly offside' should not become onside every time an opponent moves and touches the ball.

FIFA to test handball rules

Earlier, Sports Brief reported on Arsene Wenger's calls for a change to the offside rules possibly bearing fruit, with the world governing body for football, FIFA set to trial new proposals.

The legendary former Arsenal manager has been vocal that current rules must change, having served as FIFA's Chief of Global Football Development since he left the team in 2018.

Under the current rules, a player is deemed offside when any part of their body that can play the ball is ahead of the last defender, often leading to long Video Assistant Referee delays.

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Fred Kennedy
Fred Kennedy has a Bachelor's degree in journalism (Daystar University), currently working as a Sports Editor. He has more than five years of experience in digital journalism.