Barcelona v Sevilla WIll be used in Supercopa de Espana

Ahead of the new LaLiga season there have been 95 amendments to the rules of the game on an international scale with several newly introduced regulations.

The new legislation first comes into force in Spain on Sunday when Barcelona and Sevilla open the domestic campaign with the first leg of the Supercopa de Espana and although some of the changes are minor whilst others will undoubtedly impact the game in Spain significantly.

The kick-off

Perhaps a more aesthetic change than anything else but as we saw at the European Championship in France the ball no longer has to move forward in order for play to begin or restart.

The new regulation states that the ball is in play as soon as it is kicked and moves clearly with only one individual required for such an act.

Medical attention not forcing a player to leave the pitch

One of Jose Mourinho's biggest bugbears is a player having to leave the pitch after receiving treatment for a perceived injury with only the referee's delayed signal allowing him back into the match. That is no longer part of the game with a player injured by a tackle that receives a yellow or red card now no longer required to leave once treatment is complete.

Offences off the pitch

If a player leaves the pitch and commits an offence against another player then the game will now be restarted at the nearest possible part of the pitch to where the aforementioned incident occurred.

A foul made by an unauthorised person on the pitch

If the game is stopped and an interference is made by a member of the coaching staff, a substitute or a player who was previously sent off then the game will restart with either a free-kick or a penalty depending on the location of the foul. However if a fan is at the heart of such a fiasco then the match will restart with a drop ball.

Careless and reckless challenges and excessive use of force

Careless challenges are now classed as tackles in which a player shows a lack of consideration for his opponent, reckless tackles mean a player has performed a foul irrespective of the potential risk for injury whilst excessive force means an individual has far exceeded an acceptable level of force and must be sent off.

Preventing a goal with a handball

To touch the ball with a hand or rather crucially make an attempt to in a goalscoring situation will now be punished with a yellow card whether the offender is successful or not.

The offside rule

Will now take into account any part of the head, body or feet of a player.

The advantage rule

In addition to the current signal by the referee it is now also acceptable for the official to signal with just one arm to make it easier for him whilst running.

Referee's authority has been extended

From the 2016/17 season the referee now has the authority to take disciplinary action from the moment he steps onto the field for the pre-match pitch inspection right through until he leaves the pitch at the end of the game.

Acts of violence should initiate an advantage

If a player engages in serious foul play or violence it will now be met with the referee signalling advantage unless the infringement prevented a clear goalscoring opportunity. The referee will then send the player off but not until the ball has gone out of play and the match is stopped.

Added time

Referees may now take into account time-wasting during a match when deciding how much added time to add on at the end of a half.