So another season is upon us and as is now customary, a few new rules.
In short, thanks to GOAL.com, for the rule summaries. We make our verdicts below.
Reverting back to three substitutes
The Premier League temporarily increased the limit of making three substitutions in a match to five, which was brought in for the post-lockdown period in June to see out the remainder of the 2019-20 season. The EPL voted in favour of returning to the 3 subs for domestic competition. FIFA has left this for local associations to decide on but Juventus have been complaining already (yawnnn!) to UEFA about continuing drinks breaks and 5 subs for their European comps.
VERDICT: Correct call by the EPL at least. The Prem season re-started after we gradually returned from lockdown. As a result, the games were being played during the summer. It made sense, with a long break in between, that 5 subs were needed. I applauded the way it was implemented too, in that there will still only 3 stoppages per team. But we did see that teams with larger squads, began to see the benefits more so than the smaller ones. Yes, the season will be shorter, and the postponed Euro 2020s are due to kick off after it. But these are seasoned professional footballers. Clubs have large squads and I don't believe that extra subs really brings any value or diminishes fatigue.
No more drinks breaks
Following the resumption of the Premier League post-coronavirus lockdown, water breaks were introduced within each half in order to help players boost their fitness – but these will not take place starting the 2020-21 season.
VERDICT: Very much like the substitution rule, this isn't needed for a predominantly winter sport. I actually believe this rule hasn't been quashed per say. I think any game over an "X" temperature, is allowed drinks breaks, so no real big change here. What I didn't like was the tactical tweaks and the break up of play which accompanied the refreshments.
VAR changes
The IFAB transferred the responsibility of VAR to FIFA in July 2020, and the way in which the refereeing assistant is used in games going forwards will change.
Firstly, there will be a heavier reliance on the Referee Review Area (RRA), which will be consulted to analyse subjective decisions in three crucial areas: goals, red cards and penalty kicks.
There will be a change regarding goalkeeper encroachment on penalty kicks. Should the goalkeeper save a penalty but have his foot over the line, then VAR will have it retaken.
If the goalkeeper is found to be off his line with the ball hitting the post, the penalty will not be retaking unless the goalkeeper has a "material impact on the kick being missed".
Similarly, there are new rules introduced related to player encroachment on penalty kicks. If any part of the player's foot is on the penalty area, then it is considered encroachment.
VERDICT: I think this 1st set of changes on the face of it makes sense. We've all been calling out for the RRA video to be used more by referees, so they don't just rely on VAR teams miles away. Footy is about right and wrong decisions but giving the primary arbiter personal control and help with these calls. You can't complain about this. Likewise, the rules are clearer now on penalty encroachment both for outfield players and goalies. These are the rules, and I think it makes sense to use VAR to decide on this.
Offside Flag
The flag will also be kept down for tight marginal offside offences . When a chance on goal is about to happen, the assistant referee will be advised to keep their flag down until the play has passed.
Once the chance on goal is made - be it a goal scored or an unsuccessful attempt - the assistant will then raise the flag to signify the potential offside offence, not before.
Should the goal be scored, then the VAR will review the possibility of offside (but only after the goal is scored).
VERDICT: I actually like this tweak. Seems smalls, but i think it's going to take a bit of getting used to. Let play continue and use VAR, that's what it's there for.
Handball Rule
The new handball rule states that the shoulder goes to the end of the shirt sleeve or the bottom of the armpit (though obviously not in the case of a long-sleeve jersey). Any of these RED areas then have to involve the arm being in an unnatural position. This gives some leeway for accidental hand balls, previously, any situation where the ball hit the arm was penalised.
“Accidental handball by an attacking player should only be penalized if it ‘immediately’ results in a goal or an obvious opportunity for the player and/or their team to score a goal (i.e. following the handball, the ball travels only a short distance and/or there are very few passes).”
Referees will now be “expected” to go to the screen on the field when a call is subjective, forcing the official to either uphold or overrule his initial call.
VERDICT: I like these new changes.......ON the face of it. Clarifying the "ARM" is welcome, i think people are being pedantic and disingenuine when saying teams will just wear longer shirt sleeves. This can only help Refs, and remember we have VAR.
I also welcome the tweaks to the rulings when it comes to accidental handball. This was an anomaly. We brought in some black and white rules to help referees.....but we hadn't taken into consideration, the introduction of the VAR. With VAR, accidental hand ball can be clarified. I do think this is quite a grey area, already we're seeing a wide spectrum, of what people think are "unnatural" arm positions.
One thing, which isn't a rule change, is that VAR has now been taken under FIFA's jurisdiction in attempt to bring some uniformity to the system. Again I welcome this, but FIFA have made some silly decisions in the past, so this could g pear-shaped.
So there we go, you're all set for the new season. These rule tweaks seek to bring clarity, but as always I'm pretty sure they will bring their own controversies!
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