New Premier League extra-time rules 2024/25: 'Significant drop' in stoppage time expected after change made to match officials

Fans can expect shorter games in the new Premier League season with a change to how extra time is determined.

With VAR decisions, up to 10 substitutions and an average of more than three goals per game last season, there was a lot of added time each week.

But that is set to change in the 2024/25 campaign, with referees now being told to change the way they calculate stoppages after a goal.

Here, talkSPORT.com explains what the new rule is all about…

New rules for extra time in the Premier League

The Premier League has made a change to the way it will calculate added time.

Last season, when a goal was scored, match officials would add up the time elapsed before the restart.

But now, during this campaign, they won't do it right away.

Instead, they will allow 30 seconds for teams to return to their playing positions and restart play before adding more time.

30 seconds has been considered a natural time for players to return to their position and restart the game.

This means that after that time, the officials will start adding up the extra time and add it up at the end of the match.

During the 23/24 season, there was an easily noticeable increase in injury time at the end of Premier League matches.

However, top-flight bosses expect a “significant drop” this season due to the change.

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This rule change is one of three that have been made ahead of the 24/25 season.

Another change is the increase from three to five the number of substitutes allowed to warm up on the sidelines during a match.

And the other is an improved multi-ball system that allows ball assistants to return the ball to goalkeepers for goal kicks in hopes of speeding up games.

talkSPORT will have live coverage of multiple Premier League matches every weekend this season.

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