Referees are being told to add the exact time taken for goals and celebrations, substitutions, injuries, penalties and dismissals. Previously, a set nominal amount of time used to calculate added-on time.
A multi-ball system - which permits a match to resume immediately with another ball when the original one goes out of play - will also be used to help keep stoppages to a minimum. The EFL says this “has been proven to increase ball in-play time”.
Match officials are also being told to take “a more robust approach” when dealing with time-wasting. So in future, a yellow card will be shown to anyone delaying the restart of play or not retreating the necessary distance at a free-kick.
Injured players will also have to leave the field of play to be assessed. Exceptions to that ruling include injured goalkeepers, players from the same team who have collided and severe injury. Once play has restarted, the treated players will have to wait at least 30 seconds before being allowed back on.
Following guidance by the International Football Association Board, football’s lawmakers, the EFL have confirmed changes to the issuing of yellow and red cards around penalty kicks.
In future, as long as a player makes an attempt to play the ball or challenges for it, only a caution will be issued for conceding a penalty by denying an opponent a clear goal-scoring opportunity. A red card will be given in any other circumstance, such as holding, pushing or handball.
Finally, the EFL have again shown its commitment to keeping the game flowing by maintaining a "high threshold for penalising contact" again next season. They say officials will only penalise a player when contact has a detrimental impact on an opponent.
