Newcastle United and Premier League clubs are set to be impacted by several rule changes for the 2024-25 campaign.
In addition to the semi-automated offside technology that was seen at Euro 2024, the Premier League will be implementing several rule changes starting this weekend. Newcastle, who hopes to improve on their seventh-place finish from the previous season, will host newly-promoted Southampton at St James’ Park on Saturday (3pm kick-off).
Here are the rule changes that have been introduced for the 2024-25 Premier League season…
Premier League team news brought forward
Officially, Premier League team news was not available until one hour prior to kickoff. For example, team news would be released at 2pm for matches with a 3pm kickoff.
However, instead of 60 minutes prior to kickoff this season, teams can now disclose their team news 75 minutes in advance. Team sheets are shared between teams and the broadcast media of often briefed before this.
As a result, Newcastle’s opening day team news against Southampton is expected to be available from 1:45pm as opposed to 2pm. It’s a tiny alteration that is more in sync with the way team news is provided in UEFA tournaments.
Substitution warm-ups
Since the Covid-19 pandemic, Premier League clubs have been able to make a maximum of five substitutions during three stoppages in a match, plus a concussion substitution if necessary. Despite the number of allotted substitutions increasing, the number of players allowed to warm up on the sidelines did not. Prior to this season, a maximum of three substitutes from each side would be able to warm up while a game is being played. But now, teams are able to have five players warming up on the touchline at any given time during a match.
This could see some busy touchlines during games with up to 10 players allowed to warm up from both sides.
Multi-ball system
In addition to the ball in play, 14 match balls will be located around the pitch in order to cut down delays when the ball goes out of play. Balls can now quickly be swapped and ball assistants behind each goal will be allowed to provide goalkeepers with a ball to help matches restart quickly. Another small tweak that could make a noticeable difference in games this coming season.
Stoppage-time changes
In an attempt to cut down on time-wasting, referees added unprecedented amounts of stoppage time in Premier League matches last season. Now, match officials have been told to only start recording time for stoppages after goals have been scored once 30 seconds have passed. 30 seconds is deemed enough time for the goal to be celebrated and for both teams to get back into position to restart the game. Any time above that will be added at the end of the respective half. Premier League matches last season regularly exceeded 100 minutes which drew criticism from managers regarding player welfare. The latest changes are set to reduce the amount of stoppage time added at the end of the first and second half of games.
Change to handball rules
The manner in which handball offenses that result in a penalty will be handled differently starting in the 2024–2025 season. Football’s handball rule is still a source of significant debate, with regulations constantly changing.
The referee’s judgment will now have a greater say in how handball penalties are handled. If it’s determined that the handball was an accident, touching the ball to prevent a scoring opportunity won’t always result in a player being sent off.
Referees are urged to handle handballs the same way they would a foul in which the player attempted to play or contend for the ball in good faith. The handball rule has been amended to allow for any deflection from a player’s foot or body that visibly modifies the trajectory of the ball into their arm without being penalized as a handball offense. This is a great move that would have benefited Newcastle last season. Tino Livramento was called for a handball inside the penalty area during stoppage time last season, depriving Newcastle of a historic victory over Paris Saint-Germain when the ball ricochet off him and onto his arm.
Despite the fact that the choice violated UEFA’s own regulations at the
Penalty encroachment changes
The new season brings with it a few minor adjustments to penalty kicks, namely that the ball must contact or dangle above the center of the penalty spot at the time the kick is attempted. This guarantees a more uniform distance for the penalties to be taken.
Changes to the encroachment rules mean that a player will only be punished if they enter the penalty area before the penalty is taken and also interfere with play. If a defending player encroaches, the penalty will be re-taken if unsuccessful.
If an attacking player encroaches, a free-kick will be awarded to the defending team.
Additionally, the spot kick is retaken if a goalie crosses his line and causes a penalty to be missed. If the goalkeeper comes off his line and the player misses the target then the miss would stand.
Penalty encroachment has been rare in Newcastle matches in recent seasons. Many will remember when The Magpies were controversially denied a penalty goal converted by Matt Ritchie for encroachment during the 2016-17 Championship season as referee Keith Stroud awarded Burton Albion a free-kick despite no obvious interference from any Newcastle player and the penalty being scored.
The decision was deemed an error after the match and Stroud apologised for his mistake.