The 2024/25 Premier League season is set to kick off this weekend, bringing with it a host of new rules that will come into play right from the opening matches. Manchester City and Manchester United are both gearing up for what promises to be an intense campaign, with City chasing an unprecedented fifth consecutive Premier League title and United aiming to solidify their position in the top four, particularly now that Erik ten Hag’s future at the club seems more secure.
Manchester United will get the season underway on Friday night when they face Fulham at Old Trafford. Fans could see some of the club’s new signings, such as Matthijs de Ligt, Noussair Mazraoui, and Joshua Zirkzee, make their debuts. Meanwhile, Manchester City will begin their campaign on Sunday afternoon with a challenging away fixture against Enzo Maresca’s Chelsea, kicking off at 5.30 pm.
As the teams prepare for their opening games, they’ll need to keep in mind several new rules that will shape the upcoming season. Here’s a closer look at the changes that will be in effect.
Semi-Automated Offsides
One of the most significant updates is the introduction of a semi-automated offside system. After being successfully tested during Euro 2024, the system will be implemented in the Premier League following one of the autumn international breaks. According to a Premier League statement, “Computer vision cameras powered by Genius Sports will be installed in every Premier League stadium. These cameras will track the ball and thousands of data points for each player.”
The system is designed to quickly and accurately detect offside positions during critical moments such as goals, penalties, or red cards. If a player is found to have been offside, an alert will be sent to the officials in the VAR Hub, who will then verify the decision. The Premier League hopes this new technology will reduce the time it takes to make offside calls by over 30 seconds compared to the previous system. However, there will still be instances requiring VAR intervention, particularly in cases of “occlusion” (when the ball is obscured by players) or subjective decisions about whether an offside player interfered with play.
Team News Timing
Another change that will be welcomed by fans is the earlier release of team line-ups. Instead of waiting until 60 minutes before kick-off, the starting XI for each team will now be announced 75 minutes prior to the match. This gives supporters a little extra time to analyze and discuss the line-ups before the action begins.
Stoppage Time Adjustment
The Premier League has also introduced a tweak to how stoppage time is calculated. From now on, additional time will only be added for a goal if the delay between scoring and the subsequent kick-off exceeds 30 seconds. This adjustment is expected to lead to a noticeable reduction in overall stoppage time across matches this season.
Multiball System
To keep the game flowing, the Premier League will implement a multiball system, with 15 balls in use around the stadium. However, players will need to collect the balls from cones positioned along the sidelines themselves, as ball assistants are no longer permitted to hand the ball directly to players, except for those stationed behind the goals who can return the ball to the goalkeeper.
Substitutes Rule
In a move designed to give teams more flexibility, the number of substitutes allowed to warm up simultaneously on the sidelines has been increased from three to five. This change aligns with the existing rule permitting teams to make up to five substitutions during a match.
Premier League Match Centre
To enhance transparency and communication with fans, the Premier League has launched a new social media account called @PLMatchCentre. This account will provide real-time updates and explanations of key refereeing decisions and the use of VAR during matches. The Premier League stated, “The account will post factual explanations of on-pitch refereeing decisions and the involvement of the video assistant referee (VAR) including the role of technology in the decision-making process.” Although live VAR audio is not permitted, @PLMatchCentre will relay near-live information from the VAR Hub to keep fans informed.
‘Referee’s Call’ VAR Change
In a notable shift in how VAR will be utilized, the Premier League is introducing what’s being called the ‘Referee’s Call’. Under this new rule, VAR officials will uphold the on-field referee’s decision unless there is clear and obvious evidence of an error. This approach is intended to ensure that subjective decisions remain with the on-field referee unless there is a glaring mistake. Even if the VAR team disagrees with the referee’s call, the decision will stand unless the difference of opinion is based on something that is “clear and obvious.”
As the 2024/25 Premier League season gets underway, these new rules are set to make a significant impact on how the game is played and officiated. Clubs and fans alike will need to adapt to these changes as they strive for success in what promises to be another thrilling season.
