The English football season has kicked off and so have the goals, with Manchester City and United both scoring plenty. But in City's match, which saw them net five times, the talk of the town was the game time enjoyed by VAR. Introduced for the first time in the Premiere League, the video assistant referee made quite a few interruptions during the game ruling out Gabriel Jesus' goal after having found Raheem Sterling in an offside position by three inches!
That is not all that is new this season in terms of change in rules. Here is a complete list.
Substitutions
Teams leading on goals have often used substitutions as an excuse to waste time, with managers choosing to call off players that are at the far end of the pitch. That will no longer be possible as the new rules will force them to leave from the nearest portion of the pitch.
VAR
The video assistant referee will be used in all matches starting this season. While there have been clarion calls to scrap the system as it results in time wasting, the Premiere League has chosen to keep fairness as the top priority
Free kicks
The attacking will no longer be allowed to place a member of their team on the wall while taking a free kick. Teams have often used fellow teammates as distractions or as blind spots for goalkeepers while taking free kicks.
Drop balls
The concept of drop balls have been dropped. The team that was last in possession before play was stopped will be given the ball when play resumes. It will be up to that team to decide whether to give the ball back or not.
Handball
Any goal scored using hands will no longer be counted, whether intentional or not. Earlier, intent to score was considered before considering a goal that came off a player's hand. Post the new rule, even if the ball ricochet's off a player and finds the back of the net, it would not be counted.
Goal kicks
Defenders will now be allowed to collect the ball in the 18-yard box once the goal kick has been taken giving some security to the goalkeeper.
Penalities
Goalkeepers will have a tougher time defending penalties. New rules bar them from standing behind the goal-line, in front of the goal-line or moving from side to side to put off the kick taker. The shot stoppers will not be allowed to tough the net or the frame of the goal either.
