IFAB announce 4 rule changes; set to be applied in Premier League and other leagues

There’s will be four new rule changes in association football, which include updated laws on substitutions, managers and more.

A host of new changes will come to effect in association football from next season. The changes have been made to prevent time-wasting and cheating, amongst other incidents which could be alternatively seen as against the spirit of the game.

The rules will come to effect from June 2019.

The four new rules address substitutions, managers, free-kicks and handball.

Let’s take a look at the new rules in detail.

Handball goals inside the area:

The goals that have struck players’ hand will no longer stand. The intention doesn’t matter – even accidental handball goals will not be allowed in assocation football.

“A goal scored directly from the hand/arm (even if accidental) and a player scoring or creating a goal-scoring opportunity after having gained possession/control of the ball from their hand/arm (even if accidental) will no longer be allowed,” a statement of IFAB (International Football Association Board) read.

The governing body further added that the change in law would “provide a more precise and detailed definition for what constitutes handball, in particular with regard to the occasions when a non-deliberate/accidental handball will be penalised.”

Former Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher told Sky Sports, “It will be significant as we will no longer see a goal scored hitting the arm.

“80 per cent of the handballs that referees give are not deliberate, but because a player gains a material advantage. Taking the word deliberate out will eradicate that.”

No attacking players in the free-kick wall:

The attacking players (opposition players) will not be allowed to stand inside the free-kick wall, according to new rules.

The decision has been made keeping in mind the unnecessary interruptions and possibilities of foul/injuries. Recently, Alexandre Lacazette scored a free-kick goal after Arsenal’s players created significant disruption in the free-kick wall.

According to the new rule, the attacking players need to maintain a distance of at least one metre from the wall.

Substituted players can leave from anywhere:

According to the new rule, the substituted players can leave from any part of the field. As of now, a player being substituted could only leave by coming to the halfway line.

The rule has been changed as many players and managers use substitutions as one of the major tactics for time-wasting towards the end of the match.

“Some of the teams hanging on in the past have made a substitute when they are the furthest player from the technical area,” former Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher said.

“This will no longer apply.

“Whether they decide to go to the nearest point remains to be seen, but it’s up to the referee to invoke that.”

Managers will receive cards:

Presently, the managers and coaches only receive verbal warnings over the misconduct. However, this might change next season.

The referees will have the power to show yellow and red cards to managers and coaches in case of an offence. It is likely to follow the EFL rules, where managers could also receive match suspensions.

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There were also signficant considerations about disallowing rebound on penalties, but the law has not been implied yet. However, it was previousl reported that IFAB brought the rule to disallow rebounds, which caused a meltdown among the fans to immediately reverse the rule.

With these significant rule changes, association football is set to see major developments in the way games are played. Tactics need to be revised and both, the players and the managers will have to adapt to the new rules.

The rules will not be in application this season, however.