Starting next season, only team captains will be permitted to approach referees during Premier League matches, under new guidelines approved by the International Football Association Board (IFAB) in March.
The rule, set to be formalized at the Premier League’s annual general meeting next month, aims to streamline communication and reduce confrontations with match officials.
According to the regulations, referees can instruct players not to approach them and issue yellow cards to those who do so without permission or act disrespectfully. For teams with goalkeepers as captains, clubs must designate an alternative representative before kick-off. Players will still be able to speak with referees at other moments during matches.
The initiative, successfully trialed in UEFA’s club competitions this season and at Euro 2024, is expected to be included in the 2025-26 Laws of the Game, effective July 1, 2025. While not mandatory, IFAB strongly recommends adoption across all levels of the sport.
The Women’s Super League may also adopt the guidance, while the English Football League already penalizes confrontational behavior by multiple players toward officials with yellow cards.