Premier League's 'daft' law and significant addition for 2024-25 season

Irish Daily Mirror

2 days ago

The upcoming Premier League season is set to kick off soon, and fans can expect some intriguing rule changes accompanying the return of top-flight football.
Liverpool and Bournemouth will be the first to take to the pitch this Friday evening, with Anfield ready for the reigning champions' seasonal debut. Arne Slot's Reds, who have splashed out nearly £300million this summer, are expected to put on a strong performance, but last season's dark horses, the Cherries, won't be easy opponents.
But it's not just new faces that fans will notice when they tune in for the first top-flight match of the new season. Changes to the game's laws have been implemented.
Mirror Football provides a rundown of all the latest rule tweaks ahead of the new campaign, including a 'daft' new goalkeeping law and a significant addition to broadcasting.
Goalkeeper time-wasting clamp down
The most significant rule change made ahead of the new Premier League season will affect how long goalkeepers are allowed to hold onto the ball.
An eight-second restriction on goalkeepers controlling the football with their hands or arms has been introduced, and doing so for any longer will now see them penalised.
Referees have been instructed to give shot-stoppers a five-second countdown when controlling the ball. If they have still not released it before the eight-second limit, the opposing team will receive a corner.
This new law has been implemented in an effort to cut down on time-wasting and will soon be installed worldwide, not just in the English top flight.
Karren Brady, vice-chairman of West Ham, has hit out at the rule, dubbing it a 'daft tinkering.' She wrote for The Sun: "What was wrong with the old rule which gave keepers six seconds to release, with punishment in the form of an indirect free-kick? Beats me. It was hardly ever enforced anyway.
"The purpose of this newest change is to cut down on time-wasting but how can extending possession from six to eight seconds do that? And also the fact that the 'old' rule was almost never imposed surely means it was a good rule."
Cameras in dressing rooms
Another drastic modification has been made to Premier League broadcasting, with access now being provided inside home dressing rooms and players made available to be interviewed at half-time or after being substituted.
With Sky Sports showing 215 top-flight matches this season, TV enhancements have been made, and broadcasters will now be given unprecedented access to staff and players.
From the new season, both Sky and TNT Sports will be able to gain insight into home dressing rooms, though the club can deny access if they are losing. If the club denies, then they will have to accommodate another request later in the term.
The increased access will only occur twice for each club throughout the season, and it will be down to the home side to decide whether audio can be recorded. Broadcasters must give clubs five days' notice if they wish to record inside the dressing room, with a response needed 72 hours before kick-off.
Interview access is also set to receive a boost, as players can now be talked to after they have been taken off and at half-time. A request for half-time must be put to the club 24 hours before kick-off, and a shortlist of five names given no later than the 40th minute of a game.
Any interviews done before the match has been completed must be 'positive' and in-match interviews with substituted players or managers cannot be done before the 85th minute. No more than two questions will be asked during these interviews.
Captains only
As per a guideline approved by law-makers, the International Football Association Board (IFAB), only the club's captains can approach the referee during a match.
Yellow cards can be handed out to players who do not have permission to speak to the match official, as referees clamp down on disrespectful players. If the captain is a goalkeeper, a different outfield player can be nominated to speak with the official.
New penalty rule
Those who tuned into the Lionesses' triumphant Euro 2025 victory over Spain will be familiar with a new rule introduced regarding penalties.
England's Beth Mead was allowed to re-take her opening spot kick after she accidentally touched the ball twice, and this rule will be introduced across the board from this campaign.
Interfering with play
Another new law will penalise a team if a player who is not currently on the pitch, a substitute or a coach touches the ball before it goes out of play.
If this occurs, the opposition team will be given an indirect free kick. This also applies to players who have been sent off and other team officials. LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 22: Referee Andy Madley overturns a penalty decision following viewing the VAR screen during the Premier League match between Everton FC and Manchester United FC at Goodison Park on February 22, 2025 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/Getty Images) (Image: Getty) (Image: Getty) Anthony Taylor will officiate Ruben Amorim's first Manchester United game (Image: Getty) Goalkeepers will be majorly affected by a new law (Image: Getty)