Everton English Premier League Season Preview: Rule Changes

Like every other Premier League season, the 2017-18 edition will have some rule changes that have been decided upon with the Football Association passing some of the rules at their Annual General Meeting in May this year.

Here are the ten rules that will go into effect this season.

1 - New names and numbers

Premier League clubs will wear shirts adorned with a new print type for names and numbers. Working with partner Sporting iD, the new designs, feature updated lettering to align better with the Premier League's visual identity and new logo for this season.

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2 - Pitch designs banned

The new rules state that in line with UEFA regulations the playing surface will only contain the traditional horizontal and white lines. Spare a thought for the groundskeepers at the King Power and St. Mary’s stadiums who have been renowned for some astonishing patterns on the playing surface.

3 - Suspensions for simulation

This is going to be a new and controversial rule, with players deemed to have dived or faked an injury during a game liable to face a two-match suspension. Video footage from weekend fixtures will be reviewed on Monday by a three-man panel (comprising one former match official, a former manager and an ex-player).

Any player found guilty of simulation will be banned, but only if the panel's decision is unanimous. A player will also have an opportunity to admits to the charge, with any yellow or red cards given to the opposing player revoked.

Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images

4 - Three new stadiums

There will be three new locations hosting Premier League games this season. Tottenham Hotspur will play at Wembley Stadium while White Hart Lane is being overhauled. Newly-promoted Brighton & Hove Albion play at Amex Stadium with Manchester City the first visitors this weekend and Huddersfield Town’s John Smith’s Stadium will host Newcastle United in the second matchweek.

5 - Nike Ordem V match ball

In Nike’s 18th season as official ball supplier for the Premier League, the ball of choice will be the Ordem V, which features the Nike Aerowtrac grooves that ensure accurate and consistent flight while the Distorted Motion Graphic flickers to help see the ball better.

Photo by Andrew Redington/Getty Images for Premier League

6 - Away fans pitchside

In a bid to improve the experience for traveling fans, the Premier League clubs have agreed to the new rule by which at least one block of seats for away fans will be pitchside, and all away supporters will be seated together at all stadiums.

7 - Friday season start

For the first time in the history of top-flight football the season will kick off on a Friday. Arsenal and Leicester City will play at Emirates Stadium on Friday evening to get the festivities started.

8 - New match officials

Fans will have new faces to antagonize over this season, with two match officials promoted this offseason. Chris Kavanagh is now in the Select Group 1 of referees while Dan Cook has been added to the list of assistant referees.

Photo by Tony Marshall/Getty Images

9 - Sleeve sponsors

The Premier League clubs have discovered another way to make some sponsorship money, selling advertising space on the kit left sleeves this season, while the Premier League mascot remains on the right sleeve. Everton are yet to announce who their sleeve sponsor will be.

10 - Video allowed in technical area

For the first time, video technology will be used in the dugout for club doctors and physiotherapists to watch replays of any injury within seconds of the incident occurring, especially to better protect players from concussion and related incidents.