General Premier League Thread 2019-20

Just creating thread for the new season with TV and Date information, along with new rule information.

Games will be split over 3 providers for this new season, Sky Sports, BT Sport and Amazon.

Split of UK live TV rights
Sky Sports
128 matches per season consisting of:
Package B 32 matches at Saturday 17:30
Package C 24 matches at Sunday 14:00 and eight matches at Saturday 19:45
Package D 32 matches at Sunday 16:30
Package E 24 matches at Monday 20:00 or Friday 19:30–20:00 and eight matches at Sunday 14:00

BT Sport
52 matches per season consisting of
Package A 32 matches at Saturday 12:30
Package G 15 matches from two midweek fixture programmes and five matches from the split weekend

Amazon Prime Video
Package F 20 matches per season from one Bank Holiday and one midweek fixture programme

Dates for your Diary.

Fixture Release Date – Thursday 13 June 9am

Start Date – Saturday 10 August

Final Day - Sunday 17 May

International Break Weekends
Sat Sep 07
Sat Oct 12
Sat Nov 16
Sat Mar 28 - Euro Play-offs

League Cup Final – Sunday 1 March

FA Cup Dates
Third Round Proper – Saturday 4th January
Fourth Round Proper – Saturday 25th January
Fifth Round Proper – Wednesday 4th March
Quarter Final – Saturday 21st March
Semi Final – Saturday 18th April
Final – Saturday 23rd May

Champions League Dates
September 17/18, 1st match group stage
October 1/2 2nd match group stage
October 22/23, 3rd match group stage
November 5/6, 4th match group stage
November 26/27, 5th match group stage
December 10/11, 6th match group stage

February 18/19/25/26, 2nd round , 1st leg
March 10/11/17/18, 2nd round , 2nd leg

April 7/8, Quarter Finals, 1st leg
April 14/15, Quarter Finals , 2nd leg
April 28/29, Semi Finals , 1st leg
May 5/6, Semi Finals , 2nd leg

May 30, Final (Istanbul)


Along with VAR there is New Rules


Free Kicks - No attacking players will be allowed in the defending wall
The IFAB has approved a rule change which prohibits attacking players - ie those from the team on attacking from the free kick - from being in the wall. Specifically, when there is a wall of three or more players attackers are not allowed within one metre of it.

Any attacking player found to be less than one metre from the wall when a free kick is taken will be penalised and the other team will be rewarded with an indirect free kick.

The idea behind the change is to avoid time-wasting and disturbances between players that may result in physical altercations.

The IFAB said: "There is no legitimate tactical justification for attackers to be in the ‘wall’ and their presence is against the ‘spirit of the game’ and often damages the image of the game."

Substitutions: Players must leave pitch at nearest point
The rule-makers have struck a further blow against cynicism in the game by introducing a change to substitution protocol.

Players who are being taken off and replaced must now leave the pitch by the nearest point on the touchline, which means we will no longer be forced to endure preposterously slow walks to the half-way line.

So players will have to think twice about how they exit the pitch and, not only that, they must make their way straight to the technical area or dressing room otherwise they risk being sanctioned for unsporting behaviour.

Yellow & red cards for coaches
In order to clamp down on difficult behaviour from coaches who don't see eye to eye with the referee or their opposite number, officials will be able to show them yellow or red cards, in the same way they do with players.

If, in the event of a touchline melee for example, the offending individual cannot be identified for punishment, the senior coach who is in the technical area will be the default recipient.

Penalty kicks: Goalkeepers must have at least one foot on line
The issue of penalty kicks has cropped up a few times in recent years and the trend has been towards reducing the freedom of the goalkeeper.

That hasn't changed with the latest update to the rules, which dictate that the shot-stopper must not be moving or touching the goalposts.

The new rule changes also say that the goalkeeper must have at least part of one foot on or in line with the goal-line.

"Allowing the goalkeeper to have only one foot touching the goal line (or, if jumping, in line with the goal line) when the penalty kick is taken is a more practical approach as it is easier to identify if both feet are not on the line," goes the IFAB's explanation.

"As the kicker can ‘stutter’ in the run, it is reasonable that the goalkeeper can take one step in anticipation of the kick."

As well as those points, the penalty taker will now be permitted to receive a quick treatment if necessary before taking the kick.

Handball: Accidental offences deemed free kicks
The IFAB has attempted to provide more clarity on the handball offence for occasions when the offence is deemed to be 'non-deliberate'.

Essentially, the changes will mean that there will be no goal in cases where the ball accidentally strikes a player's hand before crossing over the line.

Similarly, if a player has accidentally handled the ball and created an advantage or subsequently scores, they will be penalised with a free kick.

Despite the IFAB's attempts, we reckon that this one will still cause plenty of debate and consternation.

Drop ball no longer competitive
The dropped ball is no more. Well, at least not as we know it.

If play is stopped inside the penalty area the ball will simply be dropped for the goalkeeper.

If it is stopped outside the penalty area the ball will be dropped for a player from the team that last touched the ball. In all cases, players will have to be at least four metres (four and a half yards) away.

Here's the IFAB's explanation: "The current dropped ball procedure often leads to a ‘manufactured’ restart which is ‘exploited’ unfairly (e.g. kicking the ball out for a throw-in deep in the opponents’ half) or an aggressive confrontation.

"Returning the ball to the team that last played it restores what was ‘lost’ when play was stopped, except in the penalty area where it is simpler to return the ball to the goalkeeper.

"To prevent that team gaining an unfair advantage, all players of both teams, except the player receiving the ball, must be at least 4m (4.5 yds) away."