Nine laws coming into effect in Premier League in unprecedented change include World Cup rules and more power for VAR

NINE new laws are set to be implemented in the Premier League this season. And six of them which don’t involve VAR will also be in action across English football. Nine rule changes are set to be implemented this season Credit: Getty Some of the changes will involve in the VAR Credit: The Times The rule changes are primarily aimed at reducing time-wasting during matches. As pointed out by the BBC, similar tweaks made at the World Cup led to the ball being in play for 60.43 per cent of matches. Sign up for the Football newsletter Thank you! This was a significant increase from 56.86 per cent at Qatar 2022. English referees will now have the power to trigger five-second countdowns if players dawdle over throw-ins. Should the throw not have been taken within the five seconds, it will be awarded to the other team. This will not come into effect, however, for long throws – as they are considered set-piece routines. Goalkeepers, meanwhile, will also have to watch how long they take over goal kicks. Should they break the five-second countdown, a referee will be able to award their opponents a corner. Most read in Football BEST FREE BETS AND BETTING SIGN UP OFFERS Goalkeepers will have to take goal kicks promptly Credit: Getty Fans often groan when a referee stops the game after an opposition player has stayed down. Now if this happens, the player in question will have to leave the pitch for a minute – even if they were not seen by the physio. This will not apply, however, if they have been fouled and the offending player has been carded for the offence. Another tactical trend that has crept into the game in recent years is the “goalkeeper timeout”. Now if a goalie is seen by a physio their manager will have 10 seconds to nominate an outfield player to go off for a minute. Should they fail to inform the fourth official within that time, the captain will be forced off instead. This will not come into play, however, if the goalie has been fouled or is bleeding. In 2024, Tyrone Mings controversially conceded a penalty in the Champions League after placing his hand on the ball during a goal kick routine. Ref chiefs have now clarified that any kick of the ball during a goal kick will be treated as having taken the kick. So should a player then put their hand on the ball, a penalty WILL be given. The remaining three changes pertain to the use of VAR, meaning that obviously they will not affect the rest of English football below the Prem. Like at the World Cup, the VAR will be able to review second yellow cards. This will only apply to second yellows that actually have been given, however, NOT potential second bookings that haven’t. The VAR will also be able to review set-piece goals for if a foul was committed prior to the kick being taken. Should this be the case, the goal will be chalked off and set-piece retaken. The final change will see VAR able to correct acts of mistaken identity by the on-field referee. For example, if a player has been carded, but the offence was actually committed by another player, VAR will intervene to see the right player penalised. This will not be implemented as it was during the World Cup though. Tim Ream was initially booked for a foul during the United States’ clash with Paraguay The VAR stepped in and eventually Miguel Almiron was penalised for a dive instead. For mistaken identity rule to come into play, it must be for the same offence. In that instance the offence was the foul that Ream committed, which should not have then been turned into a separate offence, the dive. The VAR will be able to intervene on more occasions Credit: AFP Comment now