Fijivillage
NEWS SPORTS IN DEPTH
22 March, 2026, 6:45 am
Central - 24°C Rain
22 March, 2026, 6:45 am Central - 24°C Rain

EPL starts tomorrow with changes in rules

EPL starts tomorrow with changes in rules

By Rashika Kumar
16/08/2024
Source : BBC

The English Premier League begins this weekend, with Manchester City bidding to continue their supremacy in English football and Ipswich making their top-flight return.

Manchester United host Fulham at 7am tomorrow, with matches spread across four days.

Ipswich host Liverpool at 11.30pm tomorrow before Manchester City takes on Chelsea on Monday at 3.30am in the two most eye-catching games of the opening weekend.

Arsenal will be hoping they can finally pip Manchester City to the title as they take on Wolves at Sunday at 2am, while Manchester United are looking to recover from their worst season since 1990.

There will be tweaks to handball, VAR, injury time and other rules.

The video assistant referee system will have a higher bar for intervening than before.

The "referee’s call" means that the VAR should only intervene if they can "see without any doubt the on-pitch official has made a clear mistake".

Otherwise the initial decision will stand.

That means fewer stoppages for marginal decisions to be repeatedly rewatched.

The Premier League Match Centre account, external on social media platform X will post "near-live" explanations of VAR decisions.

We will see a significant drop in stoppage time this season - because of a change in timing goal celebrations.

Until now time was added on for every second between the ball hitting the net and the kick-off being taken.

Now the clock will only be started after 30 seconds. So a game with six goals would have three minutes less of stoppage time.

Away from VAR, attacking players blocking or obstructing opposition players at a set-piece will be penalised more strictly.

The handball law will be relaxed a bit.

Players have been told by the Premier League they do not have to move with their arms rigidly by their sides or behind their backs.

The position of their arm or hand will be judged in relation to the movement of their body.

Source: BBC Sports

FNRL
FEATURE NEWS
Drua goes down 21-6 to the Reds
The Swire Shipping Fijian Drua went down fighting against the Queensland Reds 21-6 at Churchill Park in Lautoka this afternoon in round 6 of the Shop ...
13 hours ago
LATEST NEWS
Trump says US considering winding down war in Iran but other nations must guard Hormuz
US President Donald Trump says the US is considering "winding down" operations against Iran, but that other nations must guard the Strait of ...
13 hours ago

Lessons from home key to child development, says Saro
The important part of a child's growth in today’s society is the lessons learned from home.This was highlighted by Acting Senior Administrative ...
13 hours ago

Ahmadiyya Muslim Community donates medical equipment to Nausori Health Centre
The Ahmadiyya Muslim Association Fiji has donated medical equipment worth $7,500 to Nausori Health Centre to support the healthcare needs of the ...
14 hours ago

Rising dental issues among children a growing concern - Dr Lalabalavu
Minister for Health Dr Ratu Atonio Lalabalavu has raised concerns over the increasing number of dental problems among children in Fiji, warning that ...
14 hours ago

Families celebrate Eid with community spirit in Vanua Levu
Haji Bashir Khan of the Fiji Muslim League Headquarters in Vanua Levu shared that many families have been arriving since the morning to enjoy the ...
14 hours ago



Stay tuned for the latest news on our radio stations

CFL radio frequencies
IN DEPTH
Fiji Sports Council Saga: Minister ready to repay business class air fare for wife as concerns grow about Sports Council deals
I was invited to travel to New Zealand by the Fiji Sports Council for a grassroots 7s tournament in 2024, I travelled business class but it was ...
16 days ago

National Talanoa Session on Illicit Drugs in Fiji: 2,400 drug-related cases recorded in 2025
The illicit drug situation in Fiji has been described as a national emergency, with 2,400 drug-related cases recorded in 2025. Minister for Policing ...
23 days ago

Charlie Charters held at Nadi Airport because of a FICAC flag on his file
Fijian national, Charlie Charters is being held at immigration at Nadi International Airport because of a FICAC flag on his file.fijivillage News has ...
23 days ago

TOP