Football League clubs have voted through new regulations for the season ahead on top of a few other changes for 2024/25.
Clubs in the EFL agreed to a number of changes for the season ahead at their general meeting. Gillingham get their new season under way on Saturday at home to Carlisle United.
New EFL regulations state that facilities must be made available for disabled supporters of away teams with general admission tickets to sit with their fellow fans.
The EFL said: “Previously this has not been the case in all circumstances and clubs have agreed all away supporters should be provided with the opportunity to be sat with one another.”
Clubs are now required to publish a Fan Engagement Plan each season and these have started to be produced across the league, as required for the 2024/25 season.
Clubs are already required to host two fans’ forums per season.
The FEP should establish a club’s approach, vision, aims, values, and objectives for fan engagement. It’s an area that the Gills have made big progress on under the Galinson ownership.
It’s now an EFL regulation that clubs must either have or establish a Club Community Organisation (CCO).
Up until recently the Gills were the only club in the Football League without a community department – something they’ve now rectified.
The EFL say the CCO should “support the objectives of the club in delivering community sports education and charitable activity.
“Previously there was no such arrangement in place and whilst clubs have been supporting their communities through their club community organisations for many years, this now formalises the position.”
There are big changes to the way games are broadcast this season, too.
Gillingham will have at least 20 matches broadcast live, on Sky Sports, through existing subscriptions or a NOW TV pass. A new dedicated channel – Sky Sports + – will stream most of Gillingham’s matches.
The new deal with Sky TV is worth £935m over a five-year period.
In August, the Gills will have their opening game this Saturday streamed live along with the home game against Chesterfield at the end of the month.
The game at Wimbledon has also been moved to Monday, December 30 after being picked for Sky Sports TV. That meant a reshuffle to the festive fixtures.
In addition, all midweek, bank holiday and the end of season game will be broadcast along with those games played when there’s international football.
All Carabao Cup and Bristol Street Motors Trophy matches will also be screened. More TV selections will be announced later in the season.
There’s also a new official match ball for the upcoming season.
The new PUMA Orbita design includes an 8-panel ball configuration, a reduction from last season’s 12-panel design.
PUMA say that the larger panels “provide a better connection with the ball, enhancing players’ touch and control.”
A special high-visibility fluorescent yellow variant has been crafted for low-visibility conditions and is set to be introduced in November.
Specially designed balls will be used in competition colours for the Carabao Cup and Bristol Street Motors Trophy.
There are some law changes too – nothing quite as radical as those at grassroots youth level, however, with the introduction of kick-ons and no headers.
The use of additional permanent concussion substitutions is now available to competitions.
There’s been clarification that the size and suitability of shinguards is the responsibility of players.
It’s down to individuals to determine what’s deemed as reasonable protection. There is no minimum requirement when it comes to size, only that they should be “appropriate” and “made of suitable material.”
Shinguards must be covered by socks. Gillingham player Shad Ogie is among those who prefer minimal protection of the shins.
It’s now compulsory that captains must wear an identifiable armband.
Under Law 12, foul and misconduct, the FA say that: “non-deliberate handball offences for which penalties are awarded are to be sanctioned in the same way as fouls which are an attempt to play the ball or a challenge for the ball.”
For penalty kicks, encroachment by players will only be penalised if it has an impact – the same philosophy as goalkeeper encroachment.
