There are some radical rule changes coming to football next season | OneFootball

The International Football Association Board (IFAB) has announced a number of interesting rule changes which will come into effect at the start of the 2019/20 season.

Handball!

The biggest change will see a re-definition of the handball rule.

As things stand, a handball needs to be a “deliberate” act but from next season, accidental handballs will also be penalised in certain situations.

According to the IFAB, an accidental handball will become an offence in the event of “a goal scored directly from the hand/arm (even if accidental) and a player scoring or creating a goal-scoring opportunity after having gained possession/control of the ball from their hand/arm (even if accidental) will no longer be allowed.”

For example, last month Sergio Agüero accidentally handled the ball into the net in Manchester City’s 3-1 win over Arsenal. That goal was allowed to stand at the time but in future seasons, goals like that one would be disallowed.

However, the rule which protects defending players from conceding penalties or free-kicks in the event of an accidental handball will not change.

Time-wasting

Next season will also see a new rule introduced which states that substituted players must leave the field of play via the nearest boundary line.

That means players will no longer be able to casually saunter across the pitch to waste time in the dying stages of matches and must instead take the nearest exit.

Great idea, if you ask us.

The Watchers on the Wall

New rules also stipulate that attacking players must now stand at least one metre away from the defensive wall at free-kicks.

Attackers will no longer be able to try and confuse the opposing goalkeeper by hanging off the end of the wall and moving at the last second.

Was that ever a problem that needed fixing? We’re not sure about this one.

Penalties

From next season onwards, goalkeepers will only be required to keep one foot on the goal-line when defending a penalty.

This one has been designed to help the keepers in situations where the attacker does a stuttered run up to the ball and we’ll be interested to see how much difference it will make.

Miscellaneous

Other rule changes will see yellow and red cards dished out for misconduct by managers and other team officials, the ball will no longer have to leave the penalty box at goal kicks and defending team free kicks in the penalty area and a dropped ball will be given in situations where the ball hits the referee.

Exciting stuff, huh?