New Premier League rules have been introduced for the 2016/17 season in a bid to protect the referees. It's a joint initiative between the Premier League, the Football League, and the Football Association. The move is looking to cut down on the "intolerable behaviour" by players and managers.
According to a statement, the new Premier League rules are coming in after authorities noticed a growing trend of 'intolerable behaviour' in the past four seasons which has reached 'unacceptable levels'.
The new Premier League rules will focus on how players and managers treat the matchday officials, and it should significantly reduce the level of disrespect that is shown in the game today.
Hopefully the move will work, and the players will return to being exemplary role models to young children. It will probably take a bit of getting used to, and it might have an impact on one or two games.
The New Premier League Rules:
Dissent towards match officials
Yellow cards will be issued to players who:
- Show visibly disrespectful behaviour to any match official
- Respond aggressively to decisions
- Confront an official face to face
- Run towards an official to contest a decision
- Offensive, insulting or abusive language and/or gestures towards match officials
Red cards will be issued to players who confront match officials and use offensive, insulting or abusive language and/or gestures towards them.
Physical contact with match officials
- A yellow card for physical contact with any match official in a non-aggressive manner (e.g. an inquisitive approach to grab the official’s attention).
- A red card for physical contact with match officials in an aggressive or confrontational manner.
Surrounding match officials
- A yellow card for at least one player when two or more from a team surround a match official.
- The FA will continue to sanction teams when they surround match officials.
Conduct in the technical area
- The requirements of the Technical Area Code of Conduct will be more rigorously enforced for players and club staff
- Additionally, match officials will be required to retain professional detachment from players and club staff at all times.
Do you think the new Premier League rules will work?
