Premier League 2025/26: New Rules, RefCams and a Crackdown on Time-Wasting

The Premier League is back this Friday, with Liverpool hosting Bournemouth to kick off the 2025/26 season. But alongside the return of the football comes a host of new laws and tweaks designed to speed up the game, protect players, and give fans a fresh perspective. Here’s what’s changing — and what it could mean for players, referees, and supporters.

The War on Holding in the Box

For years, set-pieces have been a battlefield of shirt-pulling, wrestling, and sly grabs. This season, referees are being told to clamp down on holding inside the penalty area, particularly during corners and free-kicks. No more endless warnings or chats with players before the ball’s in play. Officials will be encouraged to let the game run and penalise offenders immediately if their holding clearly stops an opponent from moving freely. Mutual holding won’t be punished, but “extreme non-footballing actions” — like dragging a player to the ground — will be fair game for penalties. Fans will be watching closely to see if this is a genuine shift or just another short-lived clampdown.

Keepers on the Clock

Goalkeeper time-wasting has long been a frustration — especially for fans of the trailing side. From this season, keepers will have eight seconds to release the ball once they have control. If they don’t, and the referee has signalled the countdown, it’s not a free-kick anymore… it’s a corner for the other team. The rule has already been tested abroad, with FIFA’s referees’ chief Pierluigi Collina claiming it speeds up matches without being overly harsh. Expect home crowds to start their own cheeky five-second countdowns when they see the ref’s arm go up.

RefCam: See What the Ref Sees

This season could bring one of the most intriguing innovations yet — RefCam. Referees will trial head-mounted cameras, offering TV viewers footage from their point of view. It won’t be shown live during controversial incidents, but fans can expect goal celebrations, coin toss moments, and tunnel interactions in future broadcasts. FIFA says it’s as much a coaching tool for referees as it is an entertainment boost.

VAR: Quicker Calls and Clearer Communication

Semi-automated offside technology will be in play from day one, promising faster decisions and fewer delays. Big screens inside stadiums will now show the replays for offside calls, and referees will make stadium announcements to explain VAR decisions — something fans saw in last season’s FA and Carabao Cups.

Other Notable Tweaks

Simulation crackdown: More yellow cards for diving or overreacting to minimal contact.
Captain-only chats: Referees will speak to captains about major decisions to avoid being surrounded by players.
Dropped ball clarification: If the ball hits the referee, possession goes to the team who would have had it — not automatically the last team to touch it.
Double-touch penalties: If a taker accidentally kicks the ball twice after slipping, the penalty will be retaken, not disallowed.
Coaches handling the ball: Picking it up while it’s in play to help restart won’t be a red card — unless it’s done to stop the opposition.

Fans Divided but Curious

Reaction online has been mixed. Some supporters welcome the stricter approach to holding and time-wasting, seeing it as a win for flowing football. Others fear it could lead to an over-officiated start to the season, with games bogged down by early enforcement before the rules are quietly relaxed. One thing’s for sure — the first few weeks will be under the microscope as players, managers, and referees adjust.

Bottom line: The Premier League’s changes for 2025/26 aim to speed up the game, make officiating clearer, and give fans new ways to experience the action. Whether they stick or fade into the background will depend on how consistently they’re enforced once the whistle blows.

Source:ESPN Africa

Follow Joburg ETC on Facebook, Twitter , TikTok and Instagram

For more News in Johannesburg, visit joburgetc.com