The New Rules of Engagement

A joint announcement from the Premier League, EFL and The FA happened Wednesday to introduce new yellow and red card offences for the upcoming season. The reason behind these new rules is to try and curb the increasingly “intolerable behaviours” happening within the game and sullying its good name. I personally think the reason is because officials needed more rules under which to book Diego Costa for, like, existing.

The new rules are as follows:

Dissent towards match officials
Yellow cards will be issued to players who:

• Show visibly disrespectful behaviour to any match official
• Respond aggressively to decisions
• Confront an official face to face
• Run towards an official to contest a decision
• Offensive, insulting or abusive language and/or gestures towards match officials

Red cards will be issued to players who confront match officials and use offensive, insulting or abusive language and/or gestures towards them.

Physical contact with match officials
A yellow card for physical contact with any match official in a non-aggressive manner (e.g. an inquisitive approach to grab the official’s attention).

A red card for physical contact with match officials in an aggressive or confrontational manner.

Surrounding match officials
A yellow card for at least one player when two or more from a team surround a match official.

The FA will continue to sanction teams when they surround match officials.

Conduct in the technical area
Behaviour by players and club staff in the technical area will be more rigorously enforced

Additionally, match officials will be required to retain professional detachment from players and club staff at all times.

-hopechaser