Early signs good as players start to grapple with reffing changes!

REGULAR readers of this column may recall I have often bleated on about all the fouls by defenders in their penalty areas.

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Incidents like grabbing opponents and/or pulling them to the ground that not only would be a free-kick anywhere else on the pitch, but may also result in a yellow card.

Well, I am pleased to see that referees have been instructed this season to punish these fouls in the area. If it results in many more penalties for a while until the message gets through, then all well and good as it will soon cut it out.

When deliberate back-passes to the goalkeeper were brought in cut out their ability to handle the ball, it was soon obeyed and very few free-kicks were necessary,

So I was pleased to see both in Friday's game at Anfield and on my visit to Pride Park on Saturday, by and large, the referees (although issuing several warnings before spot-kicks were taken) did not have cause to take action. This is a big improvement and long may it last.

Another significant change is that goalkeepers, when in possession of the ball, have a maximum of eight seconds to release the ball. I am not sure whether the officials are timing it so far this season and maybe they need gently reminding!

If the goalkeeper exceeds the eight seconds, the punishment of conceding a corner seems more appropriate than as previously an indirect free-kick.

There was an example of this new law when it was introduced for the first time in this summer's Club World Cup. Mamedlodi Sundowns' goalkeeper Ronwen Williams exceeded the new time limit and Ulsan HD were given the corner.