Premier League rule changes for 2023/24 season: Top-flight chiefs crackdown on dissent and time-wasting

The upcoming 2023/24 Premier League season will bring about several rule changes, with a specific focus on addressing time-wasting. The season will kick off next Friday night with the match between Manchester City and Burnley, which will be exclusively broadcasted on talkSPORT.

As always, the governing bodies have made updates to the rules and regulations of the game in preparation for the new season. Here, talkSPORT.com provides an overview of the new guidelines for the Premier League.

One significant change is the implementation of added time. Taking inspiration from the 2022 World Cup, where it was observed that the ball was only in play for an average of 55 minutes in top-flight games last season, referees will now be required to time interruptions before restarts. This includes interruptions caused by goals, substitutions, injuries, or set-pieces. Additionally, more time will be added for goal celebrations that are deemed excessively lengthy. Consequently, matches in the Premier League may now be as long as those in Qatar.

Referees will also be cracking down on time-wasting, not limited to just kicking the ball away. They will penalize any “clear and impactful actions” of time-wasting. This move aims to ensure that matches flow smoothly and without unnecessary delays.

Furthermore, there are new rules in place regarding participant and fan behavior. These include a new code of conduct for the technical area, increased financial penalties for repeat offenders, refereeing courses for academy scholars to enhance their understanding of officiating, stadium bans, and potential criminal prosecution for abusive behavior, a pilot scheme to rehabilitate young offenders and educate them about the impact of their actions on others, and a three-point plan to address unwanted behavior from spectators and participants in steps 5 and 6 of the National League.

The guidelines for what constitutes a foul have also been updated. The threshold for contact between players has been raised to allow the game to flow better, reducing the number of free-kicks awarded.

On the other hand, the leniency around dissent has been reduced. Players may now be more likely to receive bookings when play is stopped. Specifically, any player who runs from a distance to speak to officials will be shown a yellow card. The same applies when more than one player approaches the referee, with at least one, and potentially more, receiving a caution.

Regarding the technical area, managers and club officials who are sent off will no longer be allowed to watch the game from the stands. Instead, they will be confined to the dressing rooms and must remain out of sight of the pitch. Harsher penalties will be imposed on managers who leave the technical area, and automatic yellow cards will be issued if there is more than one coach present.

In addition to these rule changes, talkSPORT also offers a daily betting offer. Customers can bet £20 and receive £20 in free bets. This offer is available to new customers aged 18 and above, who opt in and place a bet of £20 or more on any sport with odds of 2.00 or higher within 7 days. The free bets expire after 7 days, and only card payments are accepted. Terms and conditions apply, and customers are encouraged to gamble responsibly.

That concludes the overview of the new rule changes for the upcoming Premier League season.
Premier League chiefs have announced sweeping rule changes for the 2023/24 season in order to kick against dissent, time wasting, and to help referees better manage games.

Under the new rule changes the first yellow card for dissent will result in an automatic drop in a team’s league standing. A second yellow card for the same offence in the same game will result in game suspension for the offender. Additionally, non-medically or Play-On related stoppages during a game will be severely punished.

In their statement, the Premier League have said that these new rule changes have been undertaken “in the interest of promoting good sportsmanship and the positive development of the game of football”.

The first proposed rule change seeks to crack down on players who verbalise their dissent towards the referee, which can be summarised as using insulting, offensive or abusive language or behaviour. If a player receives their first yellow card of the season for dissent, then their team will receive a one-place drop in the standings. A second yellow card in the same game will mean the player is suspended from that game, as well as the next two league games.

The second proposed rule targets time-wasting by players, including taking too long to restart the game after water or drinks breaks, when taking goal-kicks or throw-ins, and with substitutions. Under the new rules, any deliberate interruption in play is to be punished with a drop in standings for that team.

The aims of the new rule changes are to help protect referees, discourage time-wasting, and reduce the number of incidents of dissent in the Premier League. As with most initiatives such as this, consistency and enforcement of the new rules will be key in determining their overall effectiveness. Referees will be updated on the new rule changes to make sure they are implemented correctly throughout the league.

It remains to be seen whether these new rule changes will have a positive effect on the Premier League, but it is certainly one of the most far-reaching initiatives undertaken so far to tackle this problem. It is likely that the new rules will encourage more respectful behaviour from players and provide a much more enjoyable viewing experience for football fans.