Top 5: Potential future rule changes in the Premier League

Captain being the only player to speak with the referee

Players challenging the officials over every minor decision can be one of the most infuriating things in the game and whilst steps have been taken to reduce this in recent years – with players no longer being able to surround the referee or actively challenge the officials – this still appears to be fairly inconsistent where it becomes a yellow card offence on some occasions, a warning for others and occasionally goes completely unpunished.

This really is a rule that should have been introduced long ago and allowing only the captain to speak with the referee would certainly improve the relationship between the two.

In almost every other sport, this relationship is respected and if this is something that could address this issue it should be implemented sooner rather than later.

Whilst this would be a quick, easy and effective solution, it would – in no way at all – ensure that all decision-making was fair and consistent and actually, in a lot of cases, decisions can be given from the reaction of the crowd as much as it can be from that of the players.