On the eve of the Premier League’s start, the organization has released guidelines for referees, doing so in a very clear way (and thus warning players—something the CBF should imitate).

There’s nothing new here, but rather a reinforcement for the enforcement of the rules and their clarity. For example, the main points:

• Counting the 8 seconds and awarding a corner kick if the goalkeeper exceeds the allowed time for possession with their hands (not turning a blind eye to it).
• Severely punishing any simulation or attempt to deceive the game (heard that, Deyverson?).
• The VAR is not meant to re-referee the game, and in the absence of clarity and/or doubt about the decision checked, to maintain the on-field decision (here in Brazil, we spend hours screaming in the VAR booth and nothing correct gets resolved, as if the video referee “rules” the on-field referee).
• Only the captain can talk to the referee; all other players should be punished with a Yellow Card if they complain to him (we only did this for 2 or 3 rounds in 2024, it seems the referees forgot about it).
• Holds and pulls should only be sanctioned if they cause a real impact on the play. It’s not worth it for the player to feel physical contact and give up on the play.
• To curb any and all delaying of the game (the famous “cera”), in order to have more time with the ball in play.

Finally, what is done most wrong in Brazil: handball! The Premier League reminds that it’s only an offense if there’s intention or an unnatural movement, and defines unnatural as “deliberately extending the arms in an unjustifiable additional movement,” demanding that referees look for the “logic of the movement”(which means: pay attention to whether it’s a natural, physiologically normal movement).

There’s nothing new! But, if we compare it to what we see in the Brasileirão, a large part of it is not being fulfilled!