Ex-Premier League referee warns of ‘big grey area’ in new rule just days before season starts
Former Premier League referee Graham Scott fears there will be ‘inconsistency’ when it comes to penalising delayed restarts.
Players in England’s top flight will now have a five-second countdown on throw-ins and goal-kicks to restart a game.
If they dither on the ball for too long, the opposition will then receive a throw-in in the case of a delayed throw-ins or a corner in the case of delayed goal kicks.
It is one of several new rules being introduced by the Premier League going forward, including a ten-second limit for players who are being substituted to exit the field of play.
There has been some conjecture as to when the five-second countdown, especially on throw-ins, is set to commence.
However, Scott, speaking on talkSPORT’s Hawksbee and Jacobs, was quick to stress the clock does not start ticking from the moment a player picks the ball up.
What did Graham Scott say about the new five-second delay to restart rule?
But he acknowledged there was ‘a big grey area’ surrounding the new rule and wouldn’t be surprised if it leads to complaints.
“Hopefully it will settle down quickly,” Scott said.
“The five seconds starts when the ref thinks the player has had long enough to set this up.
“A bit like before, when you used to give them the big hurry-up with your arm, it will be about that point.
“Some throw-ins will still take a little while. It’s reasonable to say, ‘We’ve got a long-throw specialist, he’s the right-back, the throw is on the left wing by the corner flag.
“It’s reasonable to say, ‘It’s our throw, we should take it how we like.’
What are the new laws being introduced for the 2026/27 Premier League season?
Injured players who go off: When play is stopped for an injury, the player will be required to leave for at least one minute (an increase from the 30 seconds previously used by the Premier League).
Delays of throw-ins and goal-kicks: A ‘five-second’ countdown and restart reversal for clearly delaying throw-ins and goal-kicks (if the time limit is exceeded, the throw-in is awarded to the opposing team; for a goal-kick the opposing team are awarded a corner).
Time limits for substitutions: A ‘ten-second’ time limit for players to leave the field when substituted. If the time limit is exceeded, the substitute cannot enter until the first stoppage after one minute has elapsed.
VAR for second yellows: A VAR review for when second yellow cards are awarded to a player resulting in a red card (only for when players are awarded a clearly wrong second yellow card, rather than a potential second yellow card).
Goalkeeper tactical timeouts: A trial will take place for the 2026/27 season where if the game is stopped for a goalkeeper injury, the manager or head coach will have to nominate an outfield player to leave the pitch immediately. The nominated player has to stay off the pitch for at least one minute after the restart of play.
“But they do need to run, not meander. And when they get there, they need to get on with it.”
Another of the new rules Scott has tipped to be tricky to enforce, at least at the start, is the timed substitutions.
Why the ten-second window for substitution rule could be rewritten
Given the short turnaround from a player seeing their number go up on the fourth official’s board to exiting within ten seconds, there’s a high chance the law gets enacted on a regular basis.
Middlesbrough’s Will Lankshear has already fallen victim to the new rule, as he took too long to exit the field during his side’s 1-0 win over Wrexham in the first round of the Carabao Cup.
“Of course, a player can run across a pitch in ten seconds,” Scott continued.
“But when they are being subbed, they’re usually either disappointed or very tried or sometimes a bit injured. Getting them off quickly will be difficult.
“I think that law was the one most vulnerable to being rewritten a month into the new season.”
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