The Premier League has introduced three rule changes ahead of the new season (Image: Getty)
The new Premier League season kicks off on Friday with Manchester United hosting Fulham at Old Trafford. Unlike previous campaigns, fans will only have a few rule changes to consider.
Minor changes to what substitutes are allowed to do, how injury time is calculated and exceptions to the multiball system are nonetheless important to understand ahead of the opening weekend.
Here, Express Sport presents to you the three modifications in question…
Replacements
It has been more than four years since the number of substitutions allowed per game was increased from three to five in the Premier League. However, other related rules have taken longer to catch up.
Until the 2024/25 season, coaches could only send three players onto the pitch at a time to warm up. That number has now increased to five, which is the maximum number of players a team can bring on at one time.
Premier League managers can send five substitutes to warm up at any time (Image: Getty)
Overtime
In recent years, referees have added stoppages at the end of games to combat time wastage. This resulted in an average of almost 12 extra minutes over both halves at the start of last season, a significant increase on the seven-minute average over the previous five campaigns.
The Premier League has now taken a decision that will reduce this figure again. From the 2024/25 season, referees will only add stoppage time when goal celebrations exceed 30 seconds, giving both teams a natural amount of time to take their starting positions.
The Premier League's official website explains: “Given that there were 3.28 goals scored per game on average last season, this change could result in a significant drop in stoppage time this season.”
Multiball Rules
Premier League matches use 15 balls placed on cones around the pitch to maintain a fast pace. If a ball goes out of play and is not quickly recoverable, players are encouraged to find a replacement ball in a cone rather than waiting for one of the assistants to bring it back.
The role of the ball assistant is to return the original ball to a vacant cone. However, an exception has been introduced this season, which allows ball assistants stationed behind the goal to return the ball to the goalkeeper who takes the restart.
The fact remains that any coach or manager who attempts to delay the game by holding the ball in the technical area or kicking it will receive a straight red card.
Source: https://www.express.co.uk/sport/football/1935120/premier-league-rule-changes-added-time