Premier League Introduce New 'Eye Contact' Rule To Stop Time-Wasting

The Premier League have introduced new rules in an attempt to crack down on the amount of time-wasting in games.

The English top-flight returns on August 5 with Crystal Palace's visit of Arsenal and will mark the the start of a brand new multi-ball system.

According to Mike Keegan from the Daily Mail, a total of ten match balls will be used during fixtures.

There will be the one in play from kick-off, one in the possession of the fourth official and a further eight dotted around the outside of the pitch - two behind the goals and and another two near the touchline.

The balls will be placed on cones and caution must be taken with the ones behind the goal to ensure Hawk-Eye goal technology is not affected in any way.

In addition, the role of ball assistants - normally academy players at the club - has been increased.

At least eight will be required to be stationed around the pitch and have been instructed to return the ball at the same speed for both teams.

There has been a tendency for ball assistants to hold on to the ball a little longer in order to run down the clock.

And interestingly, it's been made essential that ball assistants make eye contact with the player they are feeding the ball back to.

In 2018, ball boy at Bournemouth became a viral sensation during the home game against Spurs at the Vitality Stadium.

Around 20 minutes into the game, with the Cherries 1-0 up through Junior Stanislas, Sky Sports' cameras picked up an altercation between him and Spurs centre-back Jan Vertonghen.

To begin with, the lad, who has an identical twin who is also a ball boy, outright refused to give the Belgian the ball back and then threw it at his legs, with the linesman giving him a telling off for his antics.

Referee Mike Dean was also seen having a conversation with fourth official Mike Jones and it was not long before the ball boy was given a lecture from a nearby steward.