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These updates and innovations are designed to enhance the flow of the game, increase transparency, and ensure a fairer playing environment for all teams.
The Premier League will begin this weekend with Premier League Clubs bidding to get Manchester City off the throne they have been sitting on for the past 4 seasons.
The weekend will kick off with Manchester United taking on Fulham on Friday before Liverpool travel to Ipswich and Manchester City travel to Stamford bride.
There are changed that have been made to technological officiating, blocking and handballs inside the box.
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16:33 - 15.08.2024
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Pulse Sports Kenya runs through the 7 changes to look out for in the Premier League season 24/25.
Refined VAR interventions
The Video Assistant Referee (VAR) system is undergoing a notable shift this season. The introduction of the "referee’s call" principle means that VAR will now only step in if there is clear and indisputable evidence that the on-pitch official has made a significant error.
This change is expected to reduce the number of stoppages and minimize the number of marginal decisions that are reviewed repeatedly.
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15:42 - 15.08.2024
Top football matches to look out for in the next 3 days
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Additionally, fans will benefit from greater transparency as VAR decisions will be explained more clearly.
The Premier League Match Centre will offer near-live updates and detailed explanations on social media, and stadium big screens will showcase replays and decision rationales.
2. Adjustments to stoppage time
For a streamlined game, a new rule will change how stoppage time is calculated. Previously, time was added for every second of delay between a goal and the subsequent kick-off.
This season, the clock will only restart after 30 seconds following a goal. This adjustment could result in a notable reduction in stoppage time across matches, potentially cutting up to three minutes from the added time in games with multiple goals.
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09:56 - 16.08.2024
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3. Stricter Rules on blocking at set-pieces
The Premier League is clamping down on the practice of attacking players obstructing their opponents during set-pieces.
The revised guidelines mean that such blocks will now be penalized more strictly. This change follows observations like those involving Arsenal’s Ben White, suggesting that greater scrutiny will be applied to actions at corners and free-kicks.
4. Relaxed handball laws
Handball rules are being relaxed slightly to address concerns over overly harsh penalties. Players are no longer required to keep their arms rigidly by their sides or behind their backs.
Instead, officials will judge the position of the arm or hand in relation to the body’s movement. Non-deliberate handballs that result in penalties will no longer automatically incur a booking. Moreover, during penalties, the ball must now be positioned on or directly over the centre of the penalty spot.
5. Penalty area encroachment adjustments
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06:00 - 16.08.2024
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Encroachment into the penalty area during a spot-kick will only be penalized if it has a direct impact on the play. This means that players' movements will only be considered if they affect the kicker, the goalkeeper, or the chance of a goal.
6. Enhanced ball retrieval and substitution rules
Ball boys and girls will now be allowed to hand the ball directly to goalkeepers for restarts, simplifying the process. For outfield players, the multiball system using cones will remain. Additionally, the number of substitutes allowed to warm up simultaneously has increased from three to five.
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09:56 - 15.08.2024
Kenneth Muguna reflects on being crowned maiden Kenya Police player of the year
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7. New Nike flight ball
The Premier League will see the introduction of the Nike Flight ball, featuring Aerowsculpt technology. This new design includes grooves debased into the casing, which aims to improve the ball’s flight accuracy and overall performance.
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