Premier League set to introduce rule allowing only captains to speak to referees
The Premier League is set to introduce the rule which only permits captains to talk to referees about key decisions ahead of the 2025-26 season.
The rule was introduced by UEFA for the 2024 European Championship and has been utilised in UEFA competitions this season.
Introducing the initiative ahead of Euro 2024, it was hoped it would breed 'trust' between players and officials and prevent referees from being 'mobbed'.
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Captains were requested to ensure their team-mates did not encroach upon the referee to allow direct conversations to take place between the captain and official.
Explaining the rule before last summer's Euros, UEFA managing director of refereeing Roberto Rosetti said: 'Explaining a decision with up to 22 players mobbing you is impossible for a referee. It can lead to a breakdown in communication, with the beautiful game turning very ugly very quickly, which, everyone agrees, is bad for the image of football.'
The International Football Association Board (IFAB), the game's law makers, agreed to conclude trials of the rule in March. It will be included in the 2025-26 laws of the game as a new guideline 'for any competitions wishing to apply the principle of only the captain approaching the referee in specific situations'.
Premier League referee Michael Oliver spoke positively about the rule ahead of Euro 2024. 'It will definitely help,' he said. 'A lot of the situations you see now are players and fans wanting answers and clarification. Having that link and that dialogue with a designated person can only help provide that.'
PGMOL has introduced a number of new initiatives and technologies in recent seasons. Semi-automated offside technology (SAOT) was officially implemented in April after extensive trials, while in-stadium video assistant referee (VAR) announcements have been trialed in the Carabao Cup.
'Match Officials Mic'd Up', the television show which has released Premier League referee audio publicly for the first time, was also launched in a bid to improve transparency.
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