The new Premier League season is here and a handful of rule changes have been announced including new substitution time limits.
Tottenham Hotspur v Leeds United VAR check
Premier League rule changes have been introduced for the new season (Image: Getty)
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New season, new laws of the game. This year, the emphasis is on reducing time-wasting, a problem which appears to be ever more prevalent in the Premier League than ever before.
In March, Opta data showed that during the 2025/26 season, the ball was in play for an average of 55 minutes and 31 seconds. This was a stark decrease from the 2023/24 season (a record high) in which the ball was in play for 58 minutes and 11 seconds on average. Consequently, the Premier League and the FA are implementing new measures to tackle attempts to run down the clock. The Premier League have used a football survey and the responses to help shape changes to the laws of the game, the use of VAR and the factors which will be emphasised to the referees.
Changes to Laws of the Game
Players receiving treatment or injury assessment on the pitch must stay off for at least one minute (previously 30 seconds).
VAR may review an incorrect red card from a clearly wrong second yellow card. VAR will only review second yellow cards awarded, rather than a potential second yellow card that wasn't given.
A 10-second time limit for players to leave the field when being substituted is being imposed. If the time limit is exceeded, the substitute cannot enter until the first stoppage after one minute has elapsed.
Crystal Palace v Arsenal - Premier League
There is a 10-second time limit for players to leave the pitch when substituted (Image: Getty)
Referees will use a five-second countdown for throw-ins and goal kicks. Delayed restarts can result in possession/restart being awarded to the opposition.
This is being introduced after the Premier League Football Survey saw 85 per cent of respondents deem that goalkeeper 'tactical time-outs' (to force and stoppage in play and to allow players to go and receive information from their coach) were an issue and 73% viewed goalkeeper time-wasting to be an issue.
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Refereeing points of emphasis
As well as the changes to the laws of the game, the Premier League has committed to refereeing points of emphasis:
A 'less is more approach' on penalising handball.
Deal proportionately when sanctioning hair pulling through new guidance (a clear action with excessive force will still result in a red card, however unsporting behaviour will only draw a yellow card).
A more robust approach with actions clearly intended to deceive the referee (simulation and embellishment).
Enhance recognition of holding on-field offences.
Place a greater focus on challenges on goalkeepers where the attacking player clearly and unfairly impacts the ability of goalkeeper to move to ball (challenges on goalkeepers will be penalised where an attacking player makes a clear action with no intent to play or challenge for the ball which results in contact that impacts the ability of the goalkeeper to play or challenge for the ball).
Everton v Wolverhampton Wanderers hair pull
Hair pulls will be dealt with proportionately (Image: Getty)
Premier League Football Principles
Referees have been told to maintain a high threshold for penalising challenges, whilst protecting player safety - principle being that not every contact is a foul.
The Premier League is seeking to maintain a high threshold for VAR intervention - the referees' call will stand unless it is a clear and obvious error.
The Premier League survey made it apparent that respondents were not keen on greater VAR intervention as only 43% of respondents would support extending VAR to review of more incidents.
There will also be no VAR review for changing incorrectly awarded corners after only 37% of respondents to the survey offered support for the idea.
Referees should maintain stronger measures to reduce time-wasting and disruption tactics.
Referees ought to maintain a more robust approach to improving players' on-field behaviour and technical area conduct.
Tottenham Hotspur v Leeds United penalty claim
Officials have been told to maintain a high threshold for penalising challenges (Image: Getty)
Discontent with refereeing decisions and standards is intensifying, with Alan Shearer recently declaring refereeing standards to be "the worst we have seen for a long time" and to be "only getting worse."
Furthermore, recently departed Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola declared that he "never trusted" VAR.
The Premier League and the FA will hope that the implementation of new laws and emphasis relayed to referees will help to restore faith in refereeing standards, and that they can turn the page on the time-wasting troubles which plagued the league the season prior.