More penalty kicks will be awarded in the new Premier League season, with referees instructed to closely monitor tackles and obstructions inside the penalty area.
PA Media reported that greater emphasis will be placed on tackles and obstructions in the 2025/26 season, particularly when referees consider them to be game-changing.
Premier League officials will consider the clear impact on a player's ability to play the ball or fight for possession, when there is a clear and severe action that would affect the opponent's movement.
Referees and VAR will also focus on whether a player's focus was on the ball or on holding and obstructing an opponent.
Last season, Nottingham Forest were awarded a penalty against Brighton after Tariq Lamptey fouled Morgan Gibbs-White, and referees will closely monitor any similar incidents this season.
Players demonstrating or attempting to demonstrate will also be a focus of the referees, with instructions to caution players who do so. Referees will also allow team medical staff to enter the field of play when a player sustains a head injury.
In such a case, the player will leave the field of play, undergo assessment, and remain on the touchline for 30 seconds after play resumes.
Body cameras will be installed on referees in the tournament this season, but sources confirmed that this will not be implemented before the third round of the competition.
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