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.
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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).
Manchester City’s trophy-laden era has come under renewed scrutiny after the club was reportedly found guilty of 114 of the 115 Premier League financial-rule charges brought against it.
The reported verdict, disclosed by The Athletic on Friday, September 25, relates to alleged breaches covering the period between 2009 and 2018.
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The independent hearing lasted more than two years before the outcome emerged.
However, the case is not yet over, as the Premier League has not announced any sanction and Manchester City are expected to appeal the verdict.
The charges include allegations that the club failed to provide accurate financial information and breached rules relating to payments to players and coaches, as well as financial sustainability requirements.
City have consistently denied the allegations.
The reported verdict could have wider implications for the Premier League because the club has won eight league titles, four FA Cups, seven League Cups and one Champions League during the period in which the allegations have been investigated.
Potential sanctions under the league’s rules can include financial penalties and sporting punishments, with points deductions and expulsion among the measures that have been discussed in coverage of the case.
However, no punishment has been confirmed at this stage.
The uncertainty also means questions remain over whether any eventual sanction could affect Manchester City’s past achievements, current squad or future participation in the Premier League.
For now, the reported guilty findings mark a major development in one of English football’s longest-running disciplinary cases, but the final outcome will depend on the sanctioning process and City’s expected appeal.
Chelsea Football Club have confirmed a major ownership change, with Clearlake Capital set to take full control of the club after agreeing to acquire the ownership interests of Todd Boehly and Mark Walter.
Chelsea announced on Wednesday that affiliates of Clearlake Capital Group will acquire Boehly’s ownership interest, as well as Walter’s stake, giving Clearlake full control of the Premier League club.
“Chelsea Football Club today announced affiliates of Clearlake Capital Group, L.P. (‘Clearlake’) will acquire the ownership interest of Todd Boehly.
“Clearlake will also acquire Mark Walter’s ownership interest and therefore acquire full control of the Club,” the club said.
Mark Walter and Todd Boehly have agreed to sell their stakes in Chelsea to Clearlake Capital in a deal that values the club at about £5 billion.
The development marks a significant change to the ownership structure that has been in place since Chelsea’s takeover in 2022.
Chelsea also confirmed that Swiss billionaire Hansjörg Wyss will remain an important partner and stakeholder in the club.
The announcement comes after weeks of reports that Boehly and Walter were considering selling their stakes to Clearlake.
Liverpool will face Chelsea in the standout tie of the EFL Cup fourth round after the draw was conducted on Wednesday, September 16, 2026.
The draw saw 13 Premier League clubs discover their opponents for the next stage of the competition, with Liverpool handed a home clash against Chelsea.
The fixture will also see Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso return to Anfield to face his former club.
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Arsenal were drawn away against Fleetwood Town, while Newcastle United will travel to Everton for another all-Premier League encounter.
Other fourth-round fixtures include Sunderland against Brentford, Fulham against Crystal Palace and Bournemouth against Aston Villa.
See complete draw below:
Fleetwood Town vs Arsenal
Manchester City/Norwich City vs Brighton
Everton vs Newcastle United
Sunderland vs Brentford
Liverpool vs Chelsea
Bradford City vs Peterborough
Fulham vs Crystal Palace
Bournemouth vs Aston Villa
The fourth-round ties are scheduled to take place during the week commencing October 26, 2026, between Matchweeks 8 and 9 of the Premier League.
Manchester City will determine the final fourth-round pairing when they host Norwich City in their outstanding third-round fixture on Thursday, September 17.
The third round has already produced several notable results. Liverpool defeated Tottenham 3-1, Arsenal beat Ipswich Town 4-2, while Chelsea recorded a 6-3 victory over Leeds United.
Manchester United were eliminated after losing 3-2 to Brighton, while Newcastle United defeated Millwall 1-0. Everton beat Wolves 1-0, Crystal Palace defeated Middlesbrough 3-0 and Bournemouth thrashed Lincoln City 4-0.
Peterborough progressed after beating Barnsley 7-6 on penalties following a 3-3 draw, while Fleetwood Town defeated Sheffield United 1-0.
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