Sports
New penalty, substitutes rules as Premier League begins this weekend
As clubs set to begin the 2022/23 campaign this weekend, the Premier League has announced a new set of rules and changes that would guide the competition.
Some of the changes include increase in substitutes, multiball system, penalty rules, among many others.
FIVE SUBSTITUTES
Managers can now make five substitutions after this was raised from three, with agreement reached on the subject at a summer meeting between the clubs.
The changes can be made on three occasions during a match, with an additional opportunity at half-time. A total of nine subs can be named on the bench, up from seven in 2021/22.
MULTIBALL SYSTEM
In an attempt to cut down on time-wasting, this system will be reintroduced after being used when games were behind closed doors. A total of 10 balls will be used, one on the pitch, one with the fourth official and another eight positioned around the perimeter of the pitch. The idea is to keep the game flowing and limit delays in restarting the action.
NEW MATCH OFFICIALS
Four new officials have been promoted by PGMOL (Professional Game Match Officials Limited).
Tom Bramall, Natalie Aspinall, Nick Greenhalgh and Steve Meredith are the fresh faces. Remember the likes of Mike Dean, Kevin Friend, Jon Moss and Martin Atkinson have new roles and will not be refereeing Premier League fixtures.
PENALTY RULE CHANGE
The goalkeeper’s position for a penalty kick has been amended in the IFAB Laws of the Game.
When the ball is kicked, the keeper must have at least part of one foot touching, or in line with, or behind the goalline. The law still requires a keeper to have at least part of one foot on or above the line until the moment the spot-kick is taken. Therefore, the keeper may not stand behind, or in front of, the goalline.
MATCH POSTPONEMENTS
The guidance has been revised if a club has an insufficient number of players. Club requests to the board will continue to be considered on their facts and assessed on a case-by-case basis.
READ ALSO: Buhari pledges ”better life” for Nigerian judges
Approval will only be granted where the impact of player unavailability on a club’s squad is “truly exceptional and where the club concerned have taken all reasonable steps to avoid the necessity to make the application”.
CHANGE TO OFFSIDE
IFAB has clarified the offside rule and explained what constitutes defending players “deliberately playing” the ball.
Now, an offside player will not automatically become onside upon a defender touching the ball. The guideline states: “Deliberate play is when a player has control of the ball with the possibility of passing the ball to a team-mate, gaining possession of the ball, or clearing the ball. If the pass, attempt to gain possession or clearance by the player in control of the ball is inaccurate or unsuccessful, this does not negate the fact that the player deliberately played the ball.”
NO ROOM FOR RACISM
The club captains have decided to use specific moments during the campaign to take the knee, rather than before every game. This will include during the opening round of the season this weekend.
It will also occur during the ‘No Room for Racism’ match rounds in October and March, Boxing Day fixtures and the final day of the campaign.
NEW OPPONENTS
There are also, of course, more obvious things to be aware of this term.
Nottingham Forest are back in the top flight for the first time this century, and are likely to have United loanee Dean Henderson in goal. Bournemouth and Fulham are the other two newly promoted sides.
SEASON INTERRUPTION
Obviously, the biggest change is the pause in the Premier League programme due to the World Cup taking place this winter in Qatar. The domestic top-flight season stops on 12/13 November and resumes on Boxing Day (26 December).
Former Belgian international footballer, Radja Nainggolan was arrested on Monday in connection with a large-scale investigation into cocaine trafficking through the port of Antwerp, the Brussels prosecutor’s office has confirmed.
The arrest followed a series of raids conducted across Belgium in the early hours of the morning. Several suspects were detained, including Nainggolan, as part of the operation.
“The investigation concerns alleged facts of importation of cocaine from South America to Europe, via the port of Antwerp, and its redistribution in Belgium,” prosecutors said in a statement.
READ ALSO: Super Eagles Await Group Stage Fate As AFCON Draw Holds In Morocco
Further details regarding the case have not yet been made public.
Nainggolan, 36, who was born in Antwerp, recently came out of retirement to join Belgian second-division club Lokeren. The midfielder made his debut over the weekend, scoring a goal in a 1-1 draw against K. Lierse.
The former national team star enjoyed a decorated career, earning 30 caps and scoring six goals for Belgium. He also played for top Italian clubs, including Roma, Inter Milan, and Cagliari, before returning to Belgium in 2021 to join Royal Antwerp. However, his stint there ended in early 2023, following a series of controversies.
Known for his brash personality and off-field incidents, Nainggolan was suspended in late 2022 after being caught smoking an electronic cigarette on the bench, according to Belgian media.
No timeline has been given for further proceedings.
Reigning Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) champions, Rangers International F.C., will be flying into Maiduguri, Borno State, for their crucial Matchday 21 clash against the President Federation Cup holders, El-Kanemi Warriors F.C.
Biztellers reports that the Flying Antelopes would be flown by Max Air.
Inside sources at the Enugu Rangers have it that following a disappointing home loss in their previous match, the “Flying Antelopes” are determined to regain their winning form.
It was gathered that a 27-man delegation will depart Abuja on Monday morning for the short flight to Maiduguri, with the match scheduled for Wednesday, January 29th, 2025.
ALSO READ: Super Eagles Await Group Stage Fate As AFCON Draw Holds In Morocco
The team aims to swiftly move past their recent setback against Niger Tornadoes and climb back up the league table.
“We are heading to Maiduguri with the sole objective of securing a positive result and keeping pace with the front-runners,” declared team captain, Ugwueze Chinemerem. “We have analyzed our previous match and are fully focused on regaining the lost ground.”
It’s worth noting that in the reverse fixture earlier this season on August 31st, 2024, Rangers and El-Kanemi played to a goalless draw at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium in Enugu.
The Super Eagles of Nigeria will learn their group-stage opponents today as the draw for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) takes center stage in Morocco.
The tournament, hosted by the North African nation for the second time since 1988, is set to be one of the most spectacular editions in AFCON history.
In 1988, the competition featured just eight teams, but this year, 24 nations will compete for Africa’s biggest football prize.
READ MORE: Super Eagles Secure Spot In AFCON 2025 After Rwanda’s Loss
Nigeria, placed in Pot 1, will avoid fellow top-seeded teams such as Morocco, Senegal, Egypt, Algeria, and reigning champions Côte d’Ivoire in the group stage.
However, they could face challenging sides from Pot 2, including Cameroon, Mali, and Tunisia.
This year’s AFCON promises to be grander than ever before, featuring more teams than the 1988 edition, and a thrilling opening ceremony.
The ceremony will showcase some of the biggest names in African football history, with legends such as Egypt’s Essam El Hadary, Cameroon’s Patrick Mboma, Tunisia’s Aymen Mathlouthi, and Ivory Coast’s Gervinho set to grace the event.
Adding to the excitement, a musical extravaganza will take place, with performances from Morocco’s Hatim Ammor, Congolese sensation Maître Gims, and renowned Moroccan music producer RedOne.
Recall that on Saturday, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) unveiled the official logo for AFCON 2025.
The design reflects Morocco’s rich cultural heritage, featuring the AFCON trophy adorned with zellige, the traditional Moroccan mosaic art, symbolizing the country’s unique blend of tradition and modernity.
The 24 qualified nations have been divided into four pots based on their FIFA rankings:
Pot 1: Morocco, Senegal, Egypt, Algeria, Nigeria, Côte d’Ivoire
Pot 2: Cameroon, Mali, Tunisia, South Africa, DR Congo, Burkina Faso
Pot 3: Gabon, Angola, Zambia, Uganda, Equatorial Guinea, Benin
Pot 4: Mozambique, Comoros, Tanzania, Sudan, Zimbabwe, Botswana
The draw will place these teams into six groups of four, with the top two teams from each group, along with the four best third-placed teams, advancing to the knockout stage, promising thrilling action throughout the tournament.
Egypt, the most successful nation in AFCON history with seven titles, will aim to extend its dominance.
Côte d’Ivoire, the defending champions, have lifted the trophy three times, while Cameroon boasts five titles. Nigeria, with three championships, and Algeria, with two, are also strong contenders.
Morocco, the hosts, will look to replicate their 1976 triumph, their only AFCON victory.
Back then, the tournament followed a unique format, with the top four teams from the group stage playing in a final round-robin.
Morocco emerged victorious in Ethiopia, but this time, they will aim to claim the title on home soil in front of their passionate fans.
‘Long Face Sent Killers My Way’ – Speed Darlington Alleges Assassination Attempt
I’ll Remain In Custody Until The Joke Is Over – Sowore Rejects Bail
Aregbesola Led Faction Quits APC, Party Hits Back
Ex-Belgian Footballer, Radja Nainggolan Arrested In Cocaine Trafficking Probe
Police Plotting Kangaroo Trial Against Me – Sowore
Five Kidnapped, Woman Injured As Bandits Strike Abuja Community
OSSG Raises Alarm Over Murder Plot By APC Chieftain
NCC, SMEDAN, NAICOM, SEC, Others Set for SUPERNEWS SMEs Conf June 13
Sahara’s Tonye Cole resigns from GPHCDA
Niger Delta Avengers: President Buhari Reads riot Act …considers the carrot and stick option
Oando opens ultra-modern petrol station in Lagos
Anonymous
August 3, 2022 at 10:07 pm
This is a cool move can’t wait for the league to start