Premier League Bans Towels to Dry Ball, Arsenal Affected
The Premier League has banned players from using towels to dry the ball during matches this season, a rule affecting champions Arsenal.
The Premier League has banned players from all clubs in the competition from using towels to dry the ball during matches, effective from the start of this season, a change that strikes directly at Arsenal, last season's champions, who used the practice frequently throughout that title-winning season.
Until last season, the practice was only allowed by mutual agreement between both teams; without that consent, the referee could block it. That is how Arsenal used it during their title run, particularly before the long throw-ins taken by Ben White and Declan Rice, who used to dry the ball thoroughly before each delivery.
What do you think of the Premier League's towel ban?
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Frequently asked questions
- What has the Premier League banned this season?
- Players at every club in the competition can no longer use towels to dry the ball during matches. The ban applies from the start of this season.
- Why does the ban hit Arsenal in particular?
- Arsenal, champions last season, leaned on the towel regularly, above all before the long throw-ins of Ben White and Declan Rice, who dried the ball thoroughly before every delivery.
- How did the rule work before the change?
- Towels were allowed only when both teams agreed to it. Without that consent, the referee was free to stop players from drying the ball.
