TWO MATCH BANS FOR DIVING AND OTHER EPL RULES FOR THE 2017/2018 SEASON

The English Premier League for the 2017/2018 season is here and every team would be looking forward to make sure that their team achieves their goals and objectives for the season. And to that effect, players have been bought, new managers have been signed but what are going to be the new rules that we are likely to see in this coming season, what to expect from referees and others still under discussion?

Let’s take a look at some of them;

Ø  DIVING BAN:

The most notable change or amendment to the new rules that are going to be implemented in the 2017/2018 season is the Diving Ban.

Over the years, issues of simulation have been a big conspiracy that have seen penalties, yellow cards and even in some occasion, red cards being wrongly awarded. And The English FA, in their best interest to make the EPL not only be an exciting league but also a “free and fair” one; have been able to come up with a new rule that sees anybody found guilty of diving banned for two games.

To that effect, every Monday, a three man panel that will comprise of one ex-manager, one ex-player and one ex-match official will be set up to review the footage of each match played over the weekend and independently but unanimously make a decision of any cases of simulation and the FA will act on the decision made and punish players found guilty accordingly.

Also, yellow cards and red cards received will be rescinded for players who were deemed to have a committed a foul, if the player was found guilty of diving.

With this new rule, the English FA hopes that the issue of simulation would be reduced drastically or completely thrashed henceforth.

Ø  ABBA PENALTIES:

As witnessed in the match between Chelsea and Arsenal of which the new system of Penalties was used to decide the winner of the Community Shield Trophy last Sunday, this new system would also be integrated into competitions in England.

Unlike the traditional system of penalties that sees Team A take a penalty, followed by Team B and so on, the ABBA Penalties comes with a new and different approach similar to that of Tennis Tie Break where Team A takes the first penalty, followed by Two successive Team B penalties before Team A takes two successive penalties and so on.

This system of penalties was used this summer during the U-20 World Cup and will be used in the EFL Championship playoffs this season as well as the Carling (CARABAO) Cup.

Ø  PITCH DESIGNS:

This is bad news for creative groundsmen such like in the case of whoever is responsible for the pitch design at Leicester with their distinctive decorative designs.

The new rule for pitch designs have been limited to the traditional horizontal and white markings following similar regulation implemented in UEFA in their competitions.

Ø  VIDEO ASSISTANT REFEREE (VAR):

Though, it is not yet confirmed but discussions are already on the way to integrate VAR into the 2018/2019 season of the English Premier League. And it is expected that the technology will be introduced this season from the third round of the FA Cup as a trial period.

WHAT IS YOUR TAKE ON THIS NEW SET OF RULES AND REGULATIONS? PLEASE STATE YOUR OPINION ON THE COMMENT SECTION BELOW.