EFL clubs have been left confused by rule changes due to take effect this season, despite a series of off-season briefings from match officials. Officials from Pro Ref, the rebranded name for PGMO, toured the country over the summer to explain the amendments before a ball has been kicked in the league.
One trial is aimed at stopping goalkeepers effectively taking a timeout by pretending to be injured. Under the new rule, sides will have to nominate an outfield player to leave the field of play in such situations.
Some clubs say it is unclear who chooses that player and how long they have to do so, and say that when they raised the point during the presentations they were told someone would come back to them. Pro Ref says the situation is clear: the manager selects who comes off, and has 10 seconds to do so.
There have been similar complaints over a new throw-in timer, and questions over when the five permitted seconds start. It will be left to the referee's discretion, but the clock will not reset to zero if a player picks up the ball only to throw it to a team-mate to take the restart.
Burnham backs football's dementia campaign
Andy Burnham's arrival at Number 10 may boost calls for football to tackle its dementia crisis. Burnham is a key backer of Football Families for Justice, which wants the Premier League, the PFA and the FA to set up a fund to pay the care home costs of former players suffering from dementia and Alzheimer's, amid a link between heading the ball and increased instances of brain disease.
Campaigners say a £1m-a-year fund is nowhere near sufficient, and Burnham appears to agree. "I don't think enough has been done," he said last week. "I look at the NFL, that has faced up to the issue... I don't see that yet from English football... the game should recognised its duty to support those people."
John Stiles, son of World Cup winner Nobby Stiles and co-founder of Football Families for Justice, welcomed Burnham's comments. "It is refreshing to hear the Prime Minister clearly outline the current state of play," he said. "He is right that current measures do not go far enough. We would say that they do not even touch the sides, and we look forward to working with him to finally ensure those involved take responsibility and put an end to this national scandal. It's time for change."
Bielsa bucket tribute unveiled at Leeds
Visitors to Elland Road this season will notice a new tribute to former manager Marcelo Bielsa. Leeds United unveiled a "legacy stone" installation this summer, where supporters can pay to have their names etched into an addition known as Bielsa Place. In the Argentine's honour, a marble replica of a bucket takes centre stage, a reference to Bielsa's habit of watching games from an upturned bucket on the touchline.
Britain to host Tour de France Grand Depart
Following this weekend's conclusion of the women's Tour de France, hosting duties for the historic race pass to Britain, with the first three stages of both the men's and women's events to be held there next summer. In late May, organisers called for 9,000 volunteers to help with the Grands Departs, which are expected to bring around 10 million people to the roadside.
There have already been more than 21,000 expressions of interest, smashing that target in less than six weeks. Applications remain open, with organisers hoping to select a full spread of geographies, ages and backgrounds. Lancashire residents currently lead the way in sign-ups, with organisers seeking more volunteers from Yorkshire, Wales and under-25s.
Commonwealth Games river clean-up
On the eve of the Commonwealth Games, 50 volunteers in kayaks and on paddleboards worked along the River Clyde in Glasgow, clearing litter from the water. Their haul included the millionth piece of plastic removed from Commonwealth waterways over the past year, part of a clean-up that shadowed the King's Baton relay route from St Lucia to Scotland.
