Starting this weekend, the Premier League will see a change in how match balls are returned to players, with ball boys and girls instructed to place them on cones around the pitch instead of handing them directly to players.
This change follows feedback from clubs and match officials and aims to eliminate any potential for home teams to gain a competitive advantage through instructions to ball assistants, as well as to mitigate any potential flashpoints related to the returning of the ball.
While recent incidents, such as the clash between Coventry manager Mark Robins and a Wolves ball boy during an FA Cup quarter-final, have drawn attention, the decision to update the protocol stems from a broader desire to keep the ball in play for longer during matches.
The amended guidance, confirmed this week, stipulates that players must now retrieve replacement balls themselves from the nearest cone when the match ball goes out of play and is not quickly retrievable. Ball assistants are prohibited from returning balls to players and must place them on vacant cones after each use.
This change also comes amidst a Premier League crackdown on time-wasting at the start of the season, which has led to significantly increased injury time.
The updated protocol will see five ball stations on each side of the pitch and two at each end, plus the match ball in circulation on a given match day, up from the previous total of 10.
While this adjustment aims to streamline the process of ball retrieval and enhance fairness during matches, it also reflects ongoing efforts to ensure the smooth operation of Premier League fixtures.”
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