Since VAR’s introduction to European football in 2018, there have been several big changes to the game as we know it. Handballs have been modified a handful of times whilst new changes will rectify confusion over the offside law.
VAR was first tested in English football three years ago in the FA Cup. The preliminary usage of it was deemed successful and thus, it’s been used in the Premier League since 2019. There will, however, be a number of changes to some of the rules ahead of the new campaign.
Accidental handballs in the attacking phases leading to a xgoal will now no longer be interpreted as an offence: “A player is considered to have made their body unnaturally bigger when the position of their hand/arm is not a consequence of, or justifiable by, the player’s body movement for that specific situation. By having their hand/arm in such a position, the player takes a risk of their hand/arm being hit by the ball and being penalised,” lawmakers say according to the Manchester Evening News.
The Video Assistant Referee will use thicker lines to determine offsides. ‘Armpit’ offsides became one of the biggest talking points last season but new usage of offside lines have been implemented to eradicate the marginal offside calls. Instead, thicker lines will be used in the VAR room to decide if a player is onside or not.
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