Four PL 2023-24 rule changes - from offside to clampdown on Martinez antics

07 July 2023 , 07:00

522 0

Five weeks today newly-promoted Burnley will host champions Manchester City at Turf Moor and the latest season of Premier League melodrama will have begun.

But across the nine month, 38-game campaign there will be some subtle rule changes for both players and fans to get used to.

Surprisingly none of them involve how video assistant referees will operate despite that being the most contentious element of the game every weekend - reserve assistant referees are now permitted to contribute from their stationary spot on the sidelines.

Here are the quartet of rule changes to keep your eyes peeled for...

Emi Martinez's behaviour at the World Cup prompted the game's lawmakers to clampdown on goalkeepers behaving naughtily when facing a penalty. (AFP via Getty Images)

Offside

The most significant change because it will impact dozens of games throughout the season - even if the VAR’s actual role will be unchanged.

Chelsea complete record-breaking Enzo Fernandez transfer after deadline day rush

The pompously titled Laws of the game now dictate that "a player who is clearly offside should not become onside on every occasion when an opponent moves and touches the ball."

That change was made last summer but has only been written into the Laws now.

And in essence it should provide clarity around whether a defender has deliberately played the ball or it has deflected off him - though the wording remains so vague it is open to different interpretations by different match officials.

Still, at least it’s not as drastic as the Arsene Wenger proposal to use an attacker’s full body to determine whether they are onside or not.

Unsporting behaviour

From August players can avoid being shown a card for unsporting behaviour if the referee is certain they have made a deliberate attempt to win the ball in a tackle.

What that means exactly is a bit of a grey area but, in theory, if Player X concedes a penalty for denying a goalscoring opportunity, he will not be shown a red card if the match officials believe he attempted to play the ball.

Manchester United's Casemiro reacts after being shown a red card by Anthony Taylor. (Getty Images)

Keeper's jeepers

This one’s a real buzzkiller. No more mind games for the men between the posts when it comes to a penalty shootout because the rules now state that they "must not behave in a way that unfairly distracts the kicker … [and] fails to show respect for the game and the opponent."

That includes attempting to “delay the taking of the kick or touch the goalposts, crossbar or goal net." But what about arms being waved manically and jelly legs? That may, again, be up to the interpretation of a particular referee.

At the same time it’ll be funny to see a keeper called up on any antics. And Emi Martinez, the man many believe to have forced a clampdown because of his work at last year’s World Cup, must be the big favourite to be the first culprit.

Goal celebrations

And finally a tweak we should all get behind. Referees will tag on additional time to make up for playing time lost through teams who are in no rush to stop celebrating a goal.