Sports · 18 February 2026
Premier League starts Captains Only rule for 2025 season
EEIM via Wikimedia Commons (Public Domain)
The Premier League implemented a "Captains Only" rule for the 2025/26 campaign to limit player interactions with referees. These guidelines set a more elevated bar for penalizing infractions and conducting video analysis than is standard in other European countries. Video technology assists officials in major leagues like Serie A by correcting clear errors and ensuring consistency. In Germany, Vincent Kompany has led Bayern Munich to nine consecutive wins across all competitions.
Reported by Premier League · How we write briefs