By T. Jayani, JadeTimes News
The Premier League kicks off this weekend, with Manchester City aiming to extend their dominance in English football, while Ipswich Town marks their return to the top flight. Manchester United will face Fulham at Old Trafford in the season opener on Friday at 20:00 BST, setting the stage for a weekend packed with action. Among the standout fixtures, Ipswich will take on Liverpool on Saturday, and Manchester City will visit Chelsea on Sunday.
Arsenal is determined to finally overtake Manchester City in the title race, while Manchester United seeks to bounce back from their most disappointing season since 1990. This season will also see adjustments in the rules governing handball, VAR, and injury time, promising a fresh approach to officiating.
Predictions and Key Changes
What's New in VAR, Blocking, and Handball Rules?
The Video Assistant Referee (VAR) system will now have a higher threshold for intervention. The principle of the "referee’s call" dictates that VAR should only step in when it’s evident that the on field official has made a clear and obvious error. As a result, there will be fewer interruptions for marginal decisions.
According to refereeing chief Howard Webb, the aim is to "avoid overly forensic analysis" of incidents. The Premier League's Match Centre will also provide "near live" explanations of VAR decisions on social media platform X and display more replays with detailed explanations on stadium screens to keep fans informed.
Stoppage time will be reduced due to a change in the timing of goal celebrations. Previously, time was added for every second between the ball crossing the line and the subsequent kick off. Now, the clock will resume only 30 seconds after a goal, potentially reducing stoppage time by three minutes in a match with six goals.
Additionally, there will be stricter enforcement against attacking players who block or obstruct opponents during set pieces. Arsenal's Ben White, who has garnered attention for his corner tactics, could see more fouls awarded against him.
The handball rule will also be slightly relaxed. Players will no longer be required to keep their arms rigidly by their sides or behind their backs. Instead, the position of the arm will be assessed in relation to the player's natural body movement. Howard Webb noted that this season will see fewer harsh handball penalties as officials are guided to apply the rule more leniently.
Moreover, a non deliberate handball leading to a penalty will no longer automatically result in a booking. Additionally, when taking penalties, the ball must be placed on or over the center of the penalty spot, rather than anywhere on the spot.
