Gillingham manager Neil Harris blasts the PGMOL over communication of new regulations in the technical area; Assistant boss David Livermore and goalkeeping coach Deren Ibrahim booked

Gillingham manager Neil Harris has blasted the way new rules have been introduced to the English Football League.

Harris hit out at the Professional Game Match Officials Ltd (PGMOL) - the body responsible for refereeing games in English professional football - on a day when two of his backroom team were booked, along with five of his players.

More: “That’s not going to dampen expectation levels is it?!”

New measures have been introduced this season, with the backing of the game’s leading authorities, covering all areas of the game to tackle dissent on the pitch, in the dugouts, and abusive chanting coming from the stands.

It was a yellow card for his goalkeeping coach Deren Ibrahim on Saturday that left him angry with the way the new regulations surrounding what can and can’t be done on the touchline have been communicated.

Harris said: “It wasn’t so much on the pitch, the yellow cards in the game were all right, I think they were all fouls but the two they gave to my staff, that was a joke.

“We are learning but there was a break in play and Del, the goalkeeping coach, has gone to speak to the goalkeeper, four yards outside of the technical area, that rule has just been made up on the spot because nobody has told me that, nobody told me that in my pre-management meeting, nobody has told the club that to pass on to me.

“The PGMOL can’t just make rules up as they go along. It’s a disgrace. The PGMOL have got to do better and communicate better. That is the disgrace of the day.”

Shaun Williams, Tom Nichols, Ethan Coleman, Shad Ogie and Jayden Clarke all picked up bookings in the game, coupled with the ones for Livermore and Ibrahim.

Harris has no issue about cracking down on dissent in the game, but added: “I am a