New in Premier League 2024-25: Live VAR updates, handball - ESPN

It's not even a month since Spain captain Álvaro Morata and Argentina skipper Lionel Messi held aloft the Euro 2024 and Copa América trophies, yet we're about to usher in the new Premier League season.

It all kicks off on Friday when Manchester United host Fulham at Old Trafford, which will be the first match to be played following a collection of tweaks to certain areas of the laws.

Are we still going to see extended injury time? Will understanding handball continue to require a master's degree? And what on earth is going to happen with VAR?

We've pulled it all together into this one-stop guide to everything that's changed.

What's changing?
At long last, the Premier League has launched an account on X, formerly Twitter, to provide real-time information on VAR interventions. What took it so long?

The account will provide «factual explanations of on-pitch refereeing decisions and the involvement of the video assistant referee (VAR) including the role of technology in the decision-making process.»

The Premier League is to mirror the approach of UEFA at Euro 2024 by displaying this expanded information on the big screens at grounds. Referees will not, initially at least, announce their decision to the crowd — although there are plans for a pilot scheme later in the season.

And there is another good move. Replays will be shown at stadiums of all goals disallowed on the field that have been supported by the VAR, and of goals that have been scored but are the subject of a delay for a VAR check. So, when fans are forced to stand around waiting for a goal check, there will now be video evidence. However, this will be at the end of a check, not live, and it will not stretch to possible penalties or red cards.

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