Overview
- The Premier League confirmed a blanket ban on using towels to dry the ball before throw-ins for the 2026/27 season, removing the previous practice that allowed towels only by mutual agreement.
- Managers and media have reacted to the change, with Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta calling the ban “big” and joking that players might wear caps to cope with the restriction.
- The towel rule is part of a wider package that includes a five-second restart guideline, tighter limits on goalkeeper tactical timeouts, and a new substitution law intended to reduce time-wasting.
- Referees have already enforced the new timing rules in pre-season, with Arsenal goalkeeper Illan Meslier reprimanded for wasting time, showing the league plans active on-field policing next season.
- The ban follows EFL precedent and high-profile complaints from figures such as Sean Dyche; teams will now need to adapt throw-in and set-piece preparation, and observers will watch whether the change meaningfully alters goal chances from long throws.