PREMIER LEAGUE MAKE RULE CHANGE THAT FANS CLAIM 'WASN'T NEEDED' AFTER BALL BOY INCIDENTS

Premier League ball boys and girls are no longer allowed to throw balls to players over fears home teams are gaining an unfair advantage.

Ball boys and girls, now called 'ball assistants', could previously toss the ball back to players, enabling home teams to restart play faster, but the new rule will see balls placed on cones around the edge of the pitch for the players to collect. The Premier League brought in a multi-ball system in 2022 to stop time-wasting but worries about an unfair advantage due to ball assistants have grown.

According to the Daily Star, the new rule is effective immediately. This season, Fulham goalkeeper Bernd Leno appeared to push a ball boy during his side's 3-0 defeat by Bournemouth, while Mark Robins made another cry after his Coventry side beat Wolves in the FA Cup quarter-finals.

Discussing Leno appearing to push a ball boy on Boxing Day, Fulham manager Marco Silva said: "It's clear that Bernd went to speak with the boy after that moment as the top professional he is, a really experienced player. We wanted to play quick. I don't know who gave instructions for them to hold always the ball to delay the beginning of the game again.

"I didn't see him pushing. He touched the ball boy, not pushed the ball boy. They are different things. I am not English but I know the difference between one word and the other.

"To the fourth official, it is so clear that the ball boys were delaying the game. At the moment it was already 2-0 but the rules are there. We wanted to play quick like Bournemouth before they had the chance to play quick."

Football fans on X reacted to the decision, with one saying: "An unnecessary change we don't need", while another was left asking: "What's the use of the ball boys?" It's fair to say the response was overwhelmingly negative to the latest tinker with the beautiful game.

Your turn! Do you agree with the new rule? Join the debate in the comments section.

Earlier this month, Coventry manager Robins was seen celebrating in front of a Wolves ball boy after his team won their quarter-final in dramatic fashion. The game was turned on its head by two late goals after the hosts led 2-1 until the seventh minute of added time.

Robins later apologised, saying: "I have an apology to make because before that (winning goal) happened, a ball boy had the ball in his hand. He dropped the ball and walked away, smiling. It really annoyed me, but he's a kid, you know. At the end of the day I've reacted."

"We scored the goal and I've gone and celebrated in front of him. So I'm apologising to him. I do not show emotion very often, but I did today, and that's what the FA Cup does to you. But I apologise unreservedly to him."

Wolves boss Gary O'Neil branded the celebration "disgusting" but accepted his opposition manager's apology, saying: "The boy is really upset. It shouldn't happen. I don't have too much to say on it because we've lost and it'll sound bitter, but I thought it was really important for me to speak to Mark about it. They're just kids doing their job."

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2024-03-29T13:27:10Z dg43tfdfdgfd