Bundesliga to Standardize Ballkid Rules for Next Season

The DFL's new regulations, modeled after the Premier League, aim to reduce home advantage by prohibiting ballkids from throwing balls directly to players.

• The Deutsche Fußball Liga (DFL) has verbally agreed to implement uniform rules for ballkids starting next season.
• Ballkids will be required to place balls on designated cones instead of throwing them directly to players, aligning with the Premier League's 2024 model.
• The changes are intended to eliminate home advantage by ensuring equal ball delivery speed for both teams during matches.
• The decision follows a high-profile Nations League incident in Dortmund where a ballkid’s quick action facilitated a goal for Germany.
• Some Bundesliga clubs, including Bayer Leverkusen and FC Augsburg, have already adopted the Premier League's ballkid model.

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