Premier League introduce new ‘eye contact’ rule to prevent time-wasting

Ten balls will be in use at each match in a bid to speed up play

The Premier League is set to introduce a number of new rules for the forthcoming season in an attempt to speed up play and cut down on time-wasting. As reported by the Daily Mail, the English top-flight will introduce a multi-ball system this campaign, with 10 match balls in use at every match. The report adds that, alongside the ball in play, the fourth official will be equipped with a match ball and eight will be placed at various points around the pitch on cones, with two behind each goal and two along each touchline. https://twitter.com/UtdDistrict/status/1548931512535781376 However, the balls put behind the goal must be placed in a certain position so that they do not interfere with the Hawk-Eye goal decision system. Premier League clubs have also been informed that they need to use a minimum of eight ball assistants, who are required to make eye contact with the player before passing them the ball. The ball boys - usually made up of academy players at the club - must also give the ball at the same speed to both clubs.

Moyes will need to keep his cool...

Last season, West Ham United manager David Moyes was sent-off during the Hammers' Europa League defeat to Eintracht Frankfurt after appearing to kick a ball towards a ball boy. Obviously disappointed by flow of the game, Moyes let out his frustration in a less than ideal manner, when he appeared to boot a ball with some vigour towards a ball assistant. https://twitter.com/btsportfootball/status/1522316312189583360?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1522316312189583360%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.joe.co.uk%2Fsport%2Fdavid-moyes-sent-off-after-to-kick-ball-at-ball-girl-333960 Presumably annoyed by the delay and wanting to get the game going in a hurry, the former Manchester United boss let his anger boil over and was lucky his strike narrowly missed the ball boy.

Related links:

• That’s it, we’ve found the worst miss in the history of football
• Swiss football fan slept rough in Milan for 10 years after getting lost at San Siro
• Premier League clubs to consider segregating players based on vaccination status