The English Premier League management announced the introduction of a new rule, according to which ball kids will be prohibited from returning the ball to players after a throw-in.
Under the new rule, players will have to retrieve the ball themselves near the nearest special stands after it goes out of play. The task of the ball kids will be to return the ball to the special stand. There will be four of them along the sidelines.
It is noted that ball kids will not be allowed to be near the stands.
The introduction of the rule is aimed at preventing giving an advantage to home teams, whose local ball kids can manipulate the return of the ball depending on the situation on the field.
The Football Insider publication reports that Manchester City's head coach, 53-year-old Spaniard Pep Guardiola, plans to leave the Citizens after his current contract expires.
