Premier League changes coming in 2019/20 season that will affect your team
Premier League
By
Mirror
| May 21, 2019
A few days ago we announced some of the Premier League changes that will be coming into effect next season.
These include everything from how the handball rule is being updated, to how substitutions are being modified and how drop balls are being scrapped.
Coaches will also face similar punishments to players when breaking rules next season, while free-kicks and penalties have also been looked at, and hopefully, improved.
But there are three more important changes that will have an impact on every team in the Premier League next season.
Here we take a look at them in close detail and explain how things will be a little different for players and fans in the 2019/20 campaign.
Changes to kick-off times
We'll start with the one that will likely raise the most eyebrows.
Kick-off times have become progressively strange over the past few years with Sky Sports adding 2.05pm to the mix last season.
But as TV continues to dictate when games can be played a new time has been added to the general schedule for next season: 7.45pm on a Saturday night.
It's not the worst time in the world - pub owners will no doubt be pleased with it - and it has been used on the odd occasion before.
Eight Premier League games will be shown at this time in 2019/20 while more than half of the 380 matches in the calendar will be broadcast live across all times.
The introduction of VAR
The technology has been used in the FA Cup and Carabao Cup this season, but VAR will be introduced to the Premier League next campaign, as was confirmed back in November 2018, when clubs agreed to it in principle.
At the time the Premier League said: "Clubs were provided with an update on the non-live VAR trials being undertaken by the League and Professional Game Match Officials (PGMOL) this season.
"Key learnings from VAR's use in the FA Cup and Carabao Cup, and other leagues across the world were discussed in detail.
"The Premier League's non-live testing programme will remain in place for the rest of this season, with a continued emphasis on those Saturday afternoons which have several matches being played concurrently, and developing a clear protocol for communicating VAR decisions to fans."
The technology will only be used in four game-changing scenarios: goals, red cards, penalties and in cases of mistaken identity.
Referees from overseas
The Premier League is the best division in world football, and the reason for this is the world-class talent from all over the planet that graces these shores.
As of next year, the Premier League could also have foreign referees for the first time.
Australian referee Jarred Gillett is one of his country's most experienced officials and he will join the Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) after moving to the UK.
Gillett will be part of Select Group 2, meaning he will initially referee Championship matches.
But if things work out then the official could become the first man to referee in the English top flight.
PGMOL managing director Mike Riley said: "We're delighted to welcome Jarred. He is hugely experienced and demonstrates a number of key attributes that we expect from our referees."