Like umpire's call, Premier League introduces referee's call: Here are all the new things you will see in Premier League this season

The Premier League is back with Manchester United hosting Fulham at the iconic Old Trafford stadium in the 2024-24 season opener. With many controversies, discussions, agreements and disagreements happening in the last season, the Premier League has made some major changes to the rules and regulations for this season with a chance to make some permanent changes in the league system. Here are a few new things you will get to see in the Premier League 2024-25.

First things first, you will get to see Leicester City, Ipswich Town and Southampton in action as they are promoted back in the league. And, for the first time since 2015, there will be no Jurgen Klopp's fist pumps in the league.

New laws and semi-automated offsides

Okay, so the Premier League and the match official's organisation have accepted that they somehow lost "fans and club's faith" in VAR and thus spent the last summer improving the whole process. 

Here is what they have proposed for the clubs to have faith in VAR 

• Reduced delays 
• In-stadium announcements on decisions
• A new Premier League Match Centre social-media account for better communication
• “Referee’s call
• Semi-automated off-sides

Let's break down every point now.

Reduced delays

The Premier League and the PGMOL will ensure there are fewer delays throughout the game. VAR would come into play only when there is a clear error from the on-field referee to ensure less interruption.

In-stadium announcements on decisions

Fans in the stadium will now be shown all the disallowed goals on the big screen. Alongside that, the fans will also shown all the clips of the potential offside, possible penalty or possible foul.

Premier League Match Centre social-media account

The Premier League has announced a match centre social media account just to make near-live updates of all the VAR scenarios of all the matches throughout the season.

Welcome to the Premier League Match Centre X account. This page will provide live updates from Stockley Park including information directly from the VAR Hub. We will issue near-live updates on operational matters from all matches – including clarification on refereeing and VAR.

— Premier League Match Centre (@PLMatchCentre) August 13, 2024

“Referee’s call

Just like the umpire's call in cricket, the Premier League has added "Referee's call which adds more threshold to VAR intervention. The VAR officials will now only intervene when there is a clear and obvious error from the referee giving the subjective view of the referee a greater importance.

Semi-automated offsides

Semi-automated offside technology, which was seen in action in the recently concluded Euro 2024 or FIFA World Cup 2022, will be in action in the Premier League this season. However, the technology will not be in place right from the start of the season since it is still been tested.

New Handball rules

To reduce the number of penalties in the league, the league has advised the players that they will not have to move their hands behind their backs to try to avoid contact with the ball. The handball foul will only be given if there is a clear change of trajectory after the contact or deflection of the player or when the ball hits a supporting arm of the player when the player falls on the ground.

Read Also | Football facts: Liverpool under Jurgen Klopp - Stats, Records, Trophies and more 

No mid-season break

There will be no mid-season break for the clubs and the players due to a highly congested schedule. So, there will be Premier League action every week.

Team news will be released 75 minutes before kick-off

Instead of 60 minutes, team news will now be released 75 minutes before the kick-off. 

A new Nike ball

To celebrate Nike's association with the Premier League for 25 years, Nike has made a new ball for the 2024-25 season. The ball is expected to travel faster and have more powerful strikes. It also has moulded grooves to have fewer drags.

30-sec celebration allowance 

Footballers will now be allowed 30 seconds to complete their celebrations after a goal and those 30-seconds will not be added to the injury time of the match.