PGMOL to introduce countdown rule in the Premier League | OneFootball

The Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) are set to introduce a new ‘five-second’ countdown rule ahead of the new Premier League season, talkSPORT reports.

The decision-makers are looking to crack down on time-wasting in the Premier League and are now set to give match officials the green light to punish slow restarts far more quickly than before.

The Football Association (FA) has confirmed several updates to the Laws of the Game and one of the biggest changes focuses on speeding up play.

The aim is to reduce unnecessary delays during matches and keep the ball in play for longer.

Under the new rule, referees will use a five-second countdown when they believe a player is deliberately taking too long to restart play from a throw-in or goal-kick. 

Once the official signals the countdown with an arm gesture, players will have just five seconds to get the ball back into play.

Teams that delay a throw-in will lose possession, and the set play will be awarded to their opponents from the same spot.

The same applies to goal-kicks. The opposing side will receive a corner kick instead.

Players often slow the game by taking extra time to collect the ball or repeatedly adjusting their position before restarting play.

Referees could only respond by showing a yellow card, which players were more than happy to receive as long as it gave them the extra seconds needed to protect a lead.

The cost of wasting time could now be much greater. 

Giving away possession or conceding a corner in dangerous areas could easily lead to a goal, which should make players think twice before delaying restarts.

The system has already been tested at international level and was used during the World Cup, where it generally allowed games to continue without disrupting the flow of play. 

However, some players have already looked for ways to exploit the new rule. 

Scotland captain Andrew Robertson organised his teammates before picking up the ball for a throw-in, preventing the referee from starting the countdown.

The five-second restart rule will also apply across the English Football League and the National League.