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2w ago

Premier League Referees to Enforce Tougher Holding and Time-Wasting Rules

PGMOL has instructed referees on a season-long plan to clamp down on sustained set-piece holding; impose an eight-second goalkeeper rule; toughen simulation sanctions; enforce stricter head-injury checks; limit player approaches to officials; improve VAR transparency.

Soccer Football - Premier League - Chelsea v Manchester United - Stamford Bridge, London, Britain - May 16, 2025 Referee Chris Kavanagh looks at a VAR screen REUTERS/Hannah Mckay/File Photo
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Overview

  • Premier League referees have been briefed to penalize sustained or impactful holding and grappling at set pieces and inside the penalty area.
  • VAR will retain a high intervention threshold but step in on clear and obvious errors, with referees announcing review outcomes via stadium speaker systems.
  • A new eight-second rule for goalkeeper distribution will award a corner if a keeper holds the ball too long, with referees signaling a five-second warning once control exceeds three seconds.
  • Only team captains may approach match officials, with referees booking clear simulation attempts and enforcing 30-second off-field assessments for suspected head injuries.
  • Semi-automated offside technology is now live across all Premier League matches and body-mounted Ref Cams will be trialed in the early rounds of the season.