Brand new rule changes West Ham players need to be aware of next season

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The season has only been over for one week but already West Ham United are plotting a summer of changes.

Manuel Pellegrini is set to meet with director of football Mario Husillos and co-owners David Sullivan and David Gold to thrash out transfer plans.

The Hammers are reportedly looking to bring in six new players.

It comes as Pellegrini targets European qualification next term.

The manager will spend the next few month plotting ways to improve his team on and off the pitch.

Several changes on the way next season

But he must also take into consideration a number of changes coming into the game next season.

Each rule change will undoubtedly cause controversy in one way or another. Particularly in the opening weeks of the 2019/20 campaign.

The introduction of VAR is one thing.

But the International Football Association Board have also approved a number of adjustments to the current Laws of the Game which will come into effect next season.

Handballs

From next season, if the ball hits an attackers arm in the build-up to a goal – be it accidental or otherwise – the goal will be disallowed.

For many bitter Hammers this has come one season too late as it should put a stop to any Fernando Llorente-style mistakes which helped Spurs beat Man City in this season Champions League.

In addition, defending teams will be awarded a free-kick if an inadvertent handball creates an advantage for the opposing team.

Drop ball

Old fashioned drop balls are a thing of the past, with the process of sending the ball back to the last team in possession now the due procedure.

“Returning the ball to the team that last played it restores what was ‘lost’ when play was stopped, except in the penalty area where it is simpler to return the ball to the goalkeeper.

“To prevent that team gaining an unfair advantage, all players of both teams, except the player receiving the ball, must be at least 4m (4.5 yds) away.”

Substitutions

When a player is substituted they no longer have to leave the field near to the dugouts.

Instead they must leave the field at the nearest point, thus avoiding any time-wasting tactics.

Our guess is players who know they are coming off will congregate in the centre of the pitch instead.

Free-kicks

This is one for Felipe Anderson to take note of. Attackers are no longer allowed in the wall at free kicks.

The wall does have to contain at least three players however, at which point all attackers must be at least a metre away.

IFAB hold pretty strong views on this one.

“There is no legitimate tactical justification for attackers to be in the ‘wall’ and their presence is against the ‘spirit of the game’ and often damages the image of the game,” an IFAB statement explained.

Penalties

Lukasz Fabianski and the goalkeeper’s union will have to watch their step next season. IFAB are now stating that ‘keepers must have one foot on the line during a penalty kick.

Not only that, but they are also forbidden from touching the posts before the kick.

Cards for coaches

We can’t see this being a problem as cool, calm and charming Pellegrini is very much in control of his emotions during a game.

But coaches will now be dealt the same punishment as players. Referees are allowed to brandish yellow and red cards to managers and backroom staff.