Premier League Implements Major Rule Change Regarding Ball Boys and Girls

In order to address the issue of teams gaining advantages through the use of ball boys and girls, the Premier League has implemented new regulations. Going forward, these young assistants will no longer be allowed to directly hand balls to players during Premier League matches.

This decision comes as a response to various incidents that have occurred throughout the season, including a recent FA Cup match where Coventry manager Mark Robins was criticized for taunting a ball boy at Molineux. The incident shed light on how teams have been using ball assistants to gain an edge or potentially disadvantage the opposing team. The involvement of ball boys and girls has even been incorporated into game plans by elite clubs like Manchester City and Liverpool in the past. The new measures aim to address these concerns and promote fair play.

Following various case studies and a special report by Mail Sport titled 'how ball boys are being weaponised in football's dark arts,' the authorities have taken action. The Premier League will introduce new guidelines with immediate effect to address this issue.

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Under the new regulations, ball assistants will no longer have direct contact with players. Instead, they will place balls on 14 plastic cones strategically positioned around the pitch. Two balls will be placed behind each goal, with an additional five along each long side. Players will be required to retrieve a new ball from one of these designated areas. These measures aim to ensure fair play and prevent any potential misuse of ball boys and girls to gain an unfair advantage.

While the incident involving Mark Robins was not the sole reason behind the change, it served as a catalyst for taking action, alongside other incidents where home teams have gained unfair advantages. The Premier League recognizes the need for consistency and views these advantages as unfair. Therefore, the league has implemented these changes to address the issue.

Under the new guidelines, the primary responsibility of ball assistants will be to retrieve loose balls and place them on the designated vacant cones. Whenever possible, these assistants, often sourced from the clubs' academy teams, will be instructed to sit behind LED advertising boards and not interfere from the pitch perimeter. These measures aim to create a fair and consistent environment during matches.

During the 2019 Champions League semi-final, there was an incident involving young ball boy Oakley Cannonier, who promptly returned the ball to Trent Alexander-Arnold for a corner kick. This quick response from the ball boy caught Barcelona's players off guard as they were still retreating into a defensive position, ultimately resulting in a goal for Liverpool.

It is a common practice for clubs, including Liverpool, to provide coaching to ball boys before matches. These instructions often include guidance on how quickly they should return the ball based on the match situation. For instance, if the home team is winning, ball assistants may be instructed to slow down the game by delaying the return of the ball, while if the team requires a goal, they may be encouraged to return the ball promptly.

This practice of coaching ball boys to influence the pace of the game based on the score is prevalent in various clubs across the country.

In a similar vein, Pep Guardiola sent a video message to Manchester City ball boys before a crucial match against Atletico Madrid in 2022. Guardiola emphasized the importance of the ball boys in the team's tactical approach and urged them to prevent Atletico's time-wasting during throw-ins.

However, if these matches were to take place in the Premier League, such tactical plans would now become obsolete. The Premier League believes that these rule changes will not only ensure consistency on the sidelines but also protect ball boys from potential clashes with players. An example of such an incident is when Eden Hazard kicked a 17-year-old ball boy in 2013.

While discussions regarding rule changes have taken place in the past, the Premier League has decided to expedite the implementation of the new guidelines midway through the season due to recent incidents. Additionally, this weekend will also see breaks in games to accommodate Muslim players observing Ramadan and allowing them to break their fast if necessary.

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