Premier League 2019-20: Know all about the new rules
In an interesting development, certain new rules will greet the clubs in the upcoming Premier League 2019-20 season. The International Football Association Board (IFAB) brought in these changes in the laws of the game. From rules pertaining to handballs to substitutions, here we list some of the changes which fans need to be aware of ahead of a gruelling season.
Here is the new rule related to handball
A goal scored or created with the use of the hand or arm will be disallowed. This is effective even if it's an accidental handball, therefore a player's intent will not be in consideration. Meanwhile, a position of a player's hand/arm will be on focus. If a player makes his body "unnaturally bigger" as a ball hits him, a foul will be given.
Ricocheted handballs get a new rule as well
Often players find it impossible to avoid contact with the ball when it deflects off the body of an opposition player, team-mate, or even a player's own body part. A handball will not be awarded if the ball makes contact with a player's hand/arm directly from their own body or any part of the body of another player who is close.
The law about substitutions
A new rule has been laid to minimize time-wasting in relation to substitutions. Now when a player gets substituted, he must leave the football pitch at the nearest point on the touchline or goal-line. A player can leave from the halfway line or another point, only if a referee indicates the same due to concerns regarding safety, or due to an injury.
What happens when a player gets substituted?
Once a player is substituted, he must choose either the technical area or the dressing room in order to avoid problems with substitutes, spectators and match officials. If the substituted player is believed to have infringed the spirit of the law and contributed to delaying the start of play, then he will be punished for this behavior.
What about dropped balls?
There will be no more contested drop balls from the 2019-20 season. The new rule suggests that if play is stopped outside the penalty area and a dropped ball is required to go forward, then it will be dropped for the player that last touched it. Meanwhile, if the play is stopped inside the penalty area, the ball will be dropped for the goal-keeper.
Other new rules implemented
Dropped ball will be awarded when the ball happens to touch the match referee or another official and goes into the goal, or perhaps results in a change of possession or a promising attack. Earlier, when a captain won the coin toss, he could choose which goal to attack. But now, a skipper will have the option of taking the kick-off instead.
New laws about free-kicks
Now a team's goal-keeper will no longer have to deal with intruders in the defensive wall. When there is a wall of at least three or more defenders, then the attacking players will not be allowed within a yard of it. If someone is caught standing within that area at the time of the free-kick, the referee will award an indirect free-kick instead.
