"Explaining a decision while 22 players are crowding around you... It's impossible for a referee!" This is the observation made by Roberto Rosetti, UEFA's Managing Director of Refereeing. "This can lead to a breakdown in communication, with the beautiful game quickly becoming very ugly, which is bad for the image of football." Thus, at the instigation of the European institution, starting next season, only the captains of Premier League clubs will be allowed to speak to the referees. As is the case in rugby, this rule was tested during Euro 2024 to foster "trust" between players and officials. Michael Oliver, an English international referee, welcomes the new regulations: “It will certainly help, as most of the situations we see today are due to players and fans wanting answers and clarification. Having that connection and dialogue with a designated person can only help,” he told The Athletic. This new reform will be included in the 2025-2026 Laws of the Game, and each league can decide whether or not to implement it.
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Starting next season, only the captains of Premier League clubs will be allowed to speak to the referees / ©Icon Sport