The 2025/26 Premier League season is kicking off with one of the most comprehensive overhauls to the rulebook in years. The changes, which range from upgrading technology to cracking down on time-wasting, are intended to speed up play, clarify rules, and help players, officials, and fans make better decisions.
Semi-Automated Offside Technology (SAOT) is one of the main introductions. SAOT uses AI-powered tracking and several high-speed cameras to create a 3D model of each player’s position in real time. This helps VAR teams find offsides more accurately and make decisions much faster, which reduces the frustration of players and fans.
Referees will also be able to use the stadium’s public address system to explain their important calls to fans in real-time. This measure for openness, which was trialed in the FA Cup, aims to bridge the communication gap between officials and the stands.
The captain-only communication rule is another important change. The referee can only discuss a decision with the team captain. This is meant to keep people from getting too close to each other and from arguing, which will make the matches more peaceful and respectful.
People who take penalties are also under more scrutiny. If a player double-kicks the ball while taking a penalty, whether intentionally or unintentionally, they will now have to retake the penalty.
There is now an eight-second limit instead of the long-standing six-second goalkeeper rule, which was rarely followed. A corner kick is given to the other team if the goalkeeper holds the ball for too long. Referees will count down from five seconds so that both teams and the crowd can see exactly where the clock is.
Other Premier League Rules to Watch Out For
The rules for dropped balls are easier to understand now. If the ball hits the referee and play stops, the team that last touched it gets the ball back. If this happens in the penalty area, the goalkeeper starts play again.
Off-field players who touch the ball will no longer automatically get a yellow or red card if they are caught doing so. Instead, referees will decide whether or not to take disciplinary action on a case-by-case basis.
Finally, referee bodycams will keep being tested, as they have been in a number of competitions. They will provide broadcast footage and an extra level of accountability, but they aren’t part of the Premier League yet.