Huge rule change to be introduced in English football this season after Fifa pressure on Premier League

THE PREMIER LEAGUE and EFL have launched a new approach to cut down on time-wasting and increase ball-in-play time.

The new Championship campaign starting on August 4 will be the first run of match officials’ new approach to improving time-keeping.

As seen in the 2022 World Cup and Womens World Cup currently taking place in Australia, games are likely to last for more than 100 minutes.

One match official has told Sky Sports News it will now be a rarity if a top flight game lasts fewer than than 100 minutes.

According to the Daily Mail the average ball-in-play time for the 22/23 PL season was 54 minutes 49 seconds – the lowest number since 2010.

The EFL released a statement on their website on how they plan to enhance ball-in-play time.

It includes adding more time for injuries and goals, and a blitz on time-wasting tactics.

The statement reads: “As the game collectively looks to enhance the amount of time the ball is in play in the forthcoming campaign, the exact time lost when certain game events occur will now be added. 

“In previous seasons the policy was to add on a nominal period of time for certain game events. The events include:

• Goals and subsequent celebrations
• Substitutions
• Injuries and treatment time (if required)
• Penalties (from moment of offence to the whistle for the penalty kick)
• Red cards (from moment of offence to when the player leaves the field)

“Alongside a more accurate allowance for time lost during the game, the EFL will also adopt the multi-ball system, which has been proven to increase ball in-play time.”

“Match officials will also be taking a more robust approach to dealing with clear/deliberate actions that are impactful in delaying the restart of play, with players cautioned if they are guilty of:

• Delaying the restart of play
• Failing to respect the required distance at free-kicks.”

Some fans have taken to twitter to share their opinions on the new approach.

One wrote: “This is good! The ‘park the bus tactics’ will suffer from this. Those teams spend most of the time on the floor.”