The 2019-20 Premier League campaign is well and truly underway to the delight of fans all around the globe. There’s something different about it this year, however, and it’s got a lot of people scratching their heads – VAR.
The video assistant referees technology that’s been introduced by the International Football Association Board (IFAB) has stirred quite a lot of controversy but it’s not the only new thing that we need to be aware of – there are also new regulations for handball, drop balls, and more.
So, whether you’re a pundit, a footballer, a casual fan following your favourite team, or a hardcore fan that’s into betting on sites such as ComeOn Betting and the like, if you’re not fully familiarized with the following rules yet, you’re several games too late already.
But there is no need for you to worry about looking up the new regulations up yourself, as we have summarised them for you:
VAR
As it was agreed last year that video assistant referees technology has been introduced in the competition.
However, for all the noise that’s stirring around them, the referees are only be allowed to use the technology in four game-changing scenarios. That includes goals, penalties, red cards or in cases of mistaken identity. In either way, the referee of the game has the last word in the game. One of the common criticisms of VAR so far is that it should be used in other cases as well since, at the moment, it’s mostly used to disallow goals and not to “help create ones”, and it’s essentially taking away some of the fun of the game.
Handball
The new rule on handball means no goal that is scored through the use of a hand is to be counted, even if there is no intention of the player.
Every time a ball strikes the hand of an attacking player, it is ruled out immediately. The changes of the rule also affect the “natural” position of the hand: If it is above shoulder height is not considered as a natural position and the player is taking a risk by leaving it there.
Saturday Kick-off Times
Another part of the changes affects the games on Saturdays: A new kick-off time was introduced and eight games of the Premier League are scheduled to be shown 7:45 pm on Saturdays. While pub owners are quite happy about this time, fans who are travelling to the stadiums are not as amused about this change.
Free-kicks
When the defending team is building a wall of three or more players, players of the attacking team are no longer allowed within one yard (one meter) when the kick is taken.
If a player breaks this rule and stands within the wall when the kick is taken, the attacking team is to be penalised with an indirect free-kick.
Goal celebrations
Removing a shirt or jumping into the crowd after scoring a goal this season is being penalised with a yellow or red card, even if the goal is ruled out by the video assistant referees later on. The IFAB states that the image of the game is affected in the same way as if the goal was awarded and should be treated in the same manner.
Drop balls
It is no longer permitted to drop balls. Instead of a drop ball that formerly let two midfielders wildly swing one leg in an attempt to regain possession for their team, the last team to touch the ball now gets possession automatically.
Goal kicks
The ban of goal kicks is introduced to speed up the restarts. Defenders don’t have to wait until the ball has rolled out of the 18-yard-line anymore but can collect it directly from the goalkeeper.
So, how are you enjoying the 2019-20 Premier League campaign so far? Are you one of the many fans furious over all the goals VAR has disallowed so far? Or are you in the other big camp of fans that enjoy the more accurate refereeing? Either way, it’s safe to assume that the rules around the technology and its implementation will be tweaked in further seasons but for now – this is what footballers and managers have to work with during this year’s campaign.
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