Penalties
Despite requests from rivals for Luka Milivojevic to take penalties blindfolded, the alterations to the opportunity from 12-yards are as follows:
- Goalkeepers must keep at least one part of one foot on the goal-line when a penalty is taken (basically, the footballing governing bodies want to stop ‘keepers coming off their line a split-second before the player takes the penalty).
- No more Fabian Barthez pre-penalty kicking of the goalposts; a goalkeeper will be penalised for touching the woodwork.
- No movement along the line, either; long gone are the days of the sideways crab combined with wobbly legs that a lot of ‘keepers liked to implement.
Handball
The handball rule has been updated to mean that if a player handles the ball to gain an advantage, no matter how accidental, it will automatically be penalised.
Free-kicks
You shall not pass…under one metre to a wall of three or more opposition players: basically, if Palace are defending a free-kick, then none of the opposition’s players can get involved in the wall – the jostling has been deemed as against the spirit of the game.
Drop balls
This scenario will now see possession returned to the team that last touched the ball before the game was stopped. If play was halted in the penalty area, then ‘keepers will be given the ball.
Substitutions
Managing the game with substitutes is something the authorities are looking to stamp out. Therefore, substitutes will now have to leave the field of play at the closest possible point of the touchline.
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Sending offs
It isn’t just the on-the-field conduct that is being altered; the referee will now have the power to send managers off when, for example, a touchline fracas occurs and the main culprits from the backroom staff are unidentifiable, then it is the gaffer who will be punished.
VAR
We appreciate you're never more than six-feet away from someone discussing VAR, so to briefly sum it up:
- The technology is limited to four types of match-changing incidents when there has been a clear and obvious error: goals, penalties, straight red cards and mistaken identity
- It cannot be used for second yellow cards
- Any video clip which can help people in the stadium understand why a decision was overturned will be shown on the matchday screens - any grounds where screens aren't available will use PA announcements.