Changes We Will See in the 21/22 Premier League Season

The new Premier League season is bound to give us some blockbuster matches. However, just like any other season, we will experience a new set of controversies and close calls. These calls may or may not work out for the team you support, but they do become a point of conversation.

Each year, the authorities put in countless hours of work to tweak the rules so that every team gets a fair result and doesn't have to leave it to chance when it comes to success. This year will be no different. Due to the change in rules, we hope to see more transparency from the officials this season. 

Here are some of the more noteworthy changes that you'll get to see in the 21/22 Premier League season.

9 Players on the Bench

Ever since football resumed after Covid, most leagues adopted a 5 man substitution rule to make things easier and safer. But the Premier League decided to go back to the usual 3 man rule last season. This year won't be an exception. 

However, while the number of subs a team can make remains the same, the number of players they can name in a substitution bench has changed. For this year, teams can have 9 players on the bench. This is a massive boost for the teams having a big squad and could be vital in close matches during the season's latter stages. 

The Premier League will also continue to allow 2 additional concussion substitutions if needed.

Thicker lines for offside

When it comes to offsides, referees make mistakes. That's why VAR came along. However, it seemed to have made the situation more complex. 

To resolve the confusing offside issues, this season the officials have decided to use thicker lines. How does it help? Sometimes, a player is deemed offside if their nose is a bit out of the line or the edge of their boot is sticking out. Using thicker lines would eliminate such complicated situations, and goals won't be cancelled for small margins. 

Handball Rule

In this season, accidental handballs in any potential play that may lead to a goal will no longer be deemed offensive. This means the referee can let the game roll if any defending team player accidentally touches the ball.

However, any handball incident that will lead to an immediate goal or a direct chance of a goal will be penalised accordingly.

Apart from all this, officials will also heavily scrutinise any contact made inside the penalty area before awarding a spot-kick. Officials will also inspect the force of the contact, and what sort of impact it has on the player who's at the receiving end of it.