EPL Introduces Six New Laws Ahead of 2025/26 Season

 As the 2025/26 English Premier League season kicks off, attention will not only be on new signings and rekindled rivalries but also on a suite of law changes designed to quicken the pace of play, improve player behaviour, and refine officiating standards.

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According to Vanguard, the International Football Association Board (IFAB) has approved six significant adjustments that will be enforced from the first whistle of the new campaign.

1. Goalkeepers Restricted to Eight Seconds: In a bid to curb time-wasting, goalkeepers will now have no more than eight seconds to release the ball. Any delay beyond that will result in the opposition being awarded a corner kick—a sterner sanction than the previously underused indirect free-kick. Referees will apply a visible five-second countdown, a system tested at the FIFA Club World Cup where Morocco’s Yassine Bounou famously conceded a costly corner against Real Madrid.

2. Only Captains May Approach Referees: To reduce crowding around match officials, only the team captain will be permitted to engage the referee during play. Should the captain be the goalkeeper, a designated outfield player must be named beforehand. Persistent dissent from others will be met with a yellow card.

3. Retakes for Accidental Double-Touches at Penalties: If a penalty-taker slips and makes a double contact with the ball, and the ball still enters the net, the kick will be retaken rather than punished with an indirect free-kick. The change follows controversial incidents involving England’s Beth Mead and Atlético Madrid’s Julián Álvarez

4. Fairer Drop Ball Restarts: Drop balls will now favour the team that was about to gain possession before play was stopped, rather than defaulting to the side that last touched the ball.

5. Offside Measured by Final Contact from Goalkeepers: Offside assessments involving goalkeepers will now use the last point of contact with the ball rather than the first. Though subtle, it could prove decisive in marginal calls during quick distribution.

6. Clarifying the Spirit of the Game: Officials believe these measures will enhance fairness and fluidity, while fostering a more respectful on-field environment. The Premier League will monitor the impact closely as the season unfolds.