Premiership fixtures announced - how do you think Dundee will start?
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The Independent
23 minutes ago
- The Independent
The new law change that will make football ‘much quicker'
A new football law change will make the game a lot quicker, a referee chief has said. A significant new rule was seen during the Euro 2025 final between England and Spain during the penalty shootout. Beth Mead slipped when she took her penalty, causing her to touch the ball twice before the ball hit the back of the net. This is not allowed. Previously, the goal would have been chalked off. But thanks to the new law, it meant she was allowed to retake her penalty kick. If a double-touch happens during a game and a player misses or has the penalty saved, a free-kick will be awarded to the defending team. But it is another law that is being hailed as a positive for the game. Referees can now give corners to the opposition if goalkeepers take more than eight seconds to release the ball from their hands. A previous six-second rule was hardly ever enforced, with refs seemingly reluctant to order indirect free-kicks for the infringement. But a leading referee chief expects this summer's major law change to speed up games without referees having to intervene much, if at all. On the worldwide rule change, Scottish Football Association head of referees Willie Collum said: 'We think it will make the game much quicker because the goalkeepers now are under pressure to release a ball. 'We'll have prepared our referees tactically for that as well, forgetting just about the decision-making, the eight seconds and punishing it. We also know there will be a lot of shorter balls at times in and around the penalty area. We need our referees to be well prepared for that. 'But, it's like any rule change, the clubs are aware of it. We've spoken to a lot of goalkeeper coaches who are saying they've already been coaching it, working at it. So, we don't think we'll see a great amount of issues with that.' Referees will start the count when the goalkeeper is in full control of the ball and is unobstructed by opponents, and will visibly count the last five seconds. If any opposition player pressures or obstructs the goalkeeper, an indirect free-kick will be awarded. Collum added: 'We know that in the League Cup so far, we've not encountered any issues with it at all. It's not been punished once. So we'd hope that would continue throughout the season. We'll be proactive as well in working with the goalkeepers with that.' Another law to come in this summer involves referees: if touch the ball, they will hand a drop ball to the team who would have received it, rather than only resuming the game with possession to the last team that played the ball.
Daily Record
23 minutes ago
- Daily Record
Ross McCausland nearing Rangers transfer reunion with former stars as Russell Martin makes room for new wingers
The Northern Irish international is facing limited game time under Russell Martin and has reportedly agreed a loan move Ross McCausland is set to join Aris Limassol on loan, according to a report. And the Ibrox academy graduate is set to link up with former Rangers stars Connor Goldson and Leon Balogun in Cyprus. McCausland is facing limited game time under Russell Martin this season. Findlay Curtis looks to have grabbed his chance in pre-season and has moved ahead of McCausland in the pecking order. Djeidi Gassama has also been added and hit the ground running. Martin is looking at three more in McCausland's position as well. Rangers are working on a loan deal for Tottenham starlet Mikey Moore with a deal thought to be close. Oliver Antman of Go Ahead Eagles is another target, with the Eredivise club looking to bank £5million for the Finnish international. Crystal Palace's Jerusun Rak-Sakyi also remains on the wish list, although a recent injury is likely to delay any move. The writing is on the wall for McCausland and the Rangers Review reports that that the Northern Ireland international will complete his move to Aris this week. On potential departures, Martin said: "I think we have interest in a fair few of the players, but as and when they go, I don't know," Martin said. "I just wait for Kevin to tell me what's going on. And yeah, whilst they're here, they'll be treated with care and respect and professionalism. "And it might not always be on the terms they want or like, but I think if we're honest with each other and we respect each other and they respect the group, there's not going to be a problem." You can get all the news you need on our dedicated Rangers and Celtic pages, and sign up to our newsletters to make sure you never miss a beat throughout the season.
Daily Record
23 minutes ago
- Daily Record
Jack Butland reveals his Rangers reset and how he spent summer reminding himself of key message lost to 'overthinking'
After a turbulent season the Rangers keeper started this campaign off in top form against Panathinaikos Jack Butland has lifted the lid on his Rangers reset - and how he had to remind himself over the summer that he's a top goalkeeper. The Ibrox number one got the new campaign off to a flier with three crucial saves in Tuesday's Champions League qualifying win over Panathinaikos to put Gers in the driving seat ahead of Wednesday's second leg. It was an impressive return to form after a turbulent campaign that saw the former England international dropped following a series of high profile errors. Question marks hung over the 32-year-old's position under new boss Russell Martin. But he produced the answers in a man of the match display that has kept Rangers' £40million Champions League dream on course. And Butland said: 'I feel really refreshed, feel good, feel really positive about the season ahead. 'I had a really good summer, a lot of time to think about stuff, work on stuff, just to remind myself that I'm a good goalkeeper. 'I believe that I'm a top goalkeeper. Sometimes you can forget that when things get tough and you start to overthink. 'But I'm feeling in a great place, really looking forward to the season. I was really happy to be able to help on Tuesday night.' Rangers might have a two goal lead heading to Greece but Butland has warned the tie is far from over. The former Manchester United, Stoke and Birmingham keeper expects a red hot atmosphere in the Athens Olympic Stadium with overhead temperatures to match. And he is prepared for an onslaught from Rui Vitoria's side as they look to claw themselves back into the tie and keep the £40m Champions League dream alive. He said: 'Yeah, they will and they need to. Like I said, a lot of the work we've done is off the ball as well. We're going to have to be on it, off the ball, press them into difficult areas and do what we need to do. 'We were in St George's a few weeks back, it wasn't quite 40 degrees but it was hot enough. 'You know, we're not far off our holidays so the boys have had some heat in recent weeks so it shouldn't be too much of a test and we're certainly not going to use that as a concern. 'It's going to be difficult for both sides. Of course, as we do, we travel over there, we take our fans with us and we try and make a difference.' Despite his turbulent season, Butland played a big role in Rangers' march to the quarter final of the Europa League last season with huge displays home and away against Fenerbahce. He knows what it takes to get results in hostile environments away from home. And he said: 'A lot of tactics go out the window. "You've got to play the game, you've got to use your experience, you've got to manage the game, you've got to take the sting out of it, you've got to know when to get the ball back and play quick and when to kill the game and play it smart. 'All of that's going to come into it because this is not a league format, this is a knockout. 'We know what this week means and what we need to do and it will be really important that we get a result there and get through this time.'
