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1st August 2023
03:55pm BST
The Premier League and EFL will clamp down on time-wasting, dissent and enforce stricter rules surrounding behaviour on the bench and technical areas this season.
Stoppage time is expected to regularly hit the double-digit mark, similarly to how it did in the World Cup this season, with one match official telling Sky Sports that games are unlikely to finish below the 100-minute mark.
Last season officials became concerned with the amount of time the ball had been in play on average during games. With an average 48 minutes in League Two, 50 minutes in League One, 52 minutes in the Championship and just under 55 minutes in the Premier League, those in charge want to ensure that time is reflected.
Time will also be added on for moments such as goal celebrations and referees will now be made to specifically time how long the game is stopped before the re-start for game interruptions. This includes things such as free-kicks, offsides and penalties.
In the EFL, the multi-ball system will be used to encourage play speed up as well as punishing players for acts of time-wasting.
Other changes are also being made such as what is classed as an act of dissent during games. Now, if more than one player approaches a referee, that official can show a yellow card to one or more of those surrounding them.
Greater efforts to stop managers and those in the technical area from disrupting the game will also result in an automatic yellow card if more than one coach is in the technical area, and further punishment for managers who leave the area altogether.
Any severe actions will result in a red card and instead of being able to view the game from the stands, they will now be made to be out-of-sight of the pitch.
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