Rule changes for next season. 1. Handballs The IFAB has clarified the situation in regards to handball decisions ahead of next season. Goals will be disallowed if the ball accidentally strikes a player's hand in the build-up. A free-kick will also be awarded outside of the penalty box if a player has accidentally created an advantage by handling the ball 2. Drop balls The IFAB has also had its say on drop balls and is aiming to get rid of 'manufactured' restarts. "Returning the ball to the team that last played it restores what was ‘lost’ when play was stopped, except in the penalty area where it is simpler to return the ball to the goalkeeper. "To prevent that team gaining an unfair advantage, all players of both teams, except the player receiving the ball, must be at least 4m (4.5 yds) away. 3. Substitutions Another rule which has been introduced for next season sees some major alterations to substitutions. Now players will have to leave the pitch at the nearest point rather than walk slowly across the field late in games and waste time. 4. Free-kicks Attacking teams will no longer be allowed to have a player in the defensive wall for a free-kick. When there is a wall of at least three players, those on the attacking team are not allowed to stand within one metre of the wall. "There is no legitimate tactical justification for attackers to be in the ‘wall’ and their presence is against the ‘spirit of the game’ and often damages the image of the game," an IFAB statement explained. 5. Penalty kicks This has certainly been overdue with goalkeepers taking advantage on penalty situations for a while now. But from next season they will have to have one foot on the line. Not only must keepers be touching the line, they will not be allowed to touch the goalposts before the ball is kicked. 6. Cards for coaches Premier League referees will now be able to show them a yellow card or a red card in the same way they do with players on the pitch. So there you are, all the important issues addressed such as diving and cheating. So who says the powers to Be are out of touch?
Does it say if it's actually ok to allow Newcastle United penalties and send players of for red card offences against them this season ?
Sadly not. But at least these changes will affect the important issues like coaches being booked and attackers in the defensive wall which has been a plague on the game for...minutes.
