The top flight is set to adopt new guidelines – approved by the game’s law-makers, the International Football Association Board (IFAB), in March – that state only one player from each team, usually the captain, is allowed the approach the match official.

Under the regulations, referees can instruct players not to approach them, and show yellow cards to those who do so without permission and behave in a disrespectful manner.

In the event that a team’s captain is a goalkeeper, clubs will provide an alternative representative before kick-off.

This does not, though, prevent players from speaking to referees at other points during games.

The initiative has been used in all three Uefa club competitions this season as part of a trial process following its introduction at Euro 2024 last summer.

Although Premier League clubs are still being consulted, the rules are expected to be ratified at the Premier League annual general meeting next month and introduced at the start of the 2025-26 campaign.

IFAB will include the guidance in the 2025-26 Laws of the Game, effective from 1 July 2025.

An IFAB spokesperson told BBC Sport: “At this stage, they are not a compulsory part of the Laws of the Game, although Ifab strongly recommends their adoption at all levels following their successful implementation by Uefa and various national FAs and competitions.”

The Women’s Super League – controlled by Women’s Super League Football (WSL Football) – could also adopt the guidance.

The English Football League (EFL) has guidance in place that two or more players surrounding a match official in a confrontational manner will result in a yellow card.

New hand signals and captain-only zones?

During Uefa competitions this season, the signal used to indicate the use of ‘only the captain’ guidelines is one arm extended, showing the flat of the hand.

“This signal may be adopted by other competitions, but currently there is no mandatory signal at the highest levels of the game, as different countries may have varying views on what signal best suits their football environment,” added an IFAB spokesperson.

The governing body added it will review this further to determine whether a standard signal should be introduced in the future.

In junior, veterans, disability and grassroots football, referees will signal a captain-only zone by raising both arms above their head and crossing them at the wrists.

Uncrossing their arms and moving them in front of their body with their palms open in a forward pushing motion will indicate players must not approach them.

The zone will extend for four metres (four-and-a-half yards) around the official.

Under the guidance, referees have the power to initiate a captain-only zone at any stage during a match, although it is expected they will mainly do so following major decisions.

Why is this being introduced?

It’s no secret referees and officials at all levels of the game are facing more abuse than ever before.

In 2023, the Premier League, the FA, EFL and the referees’ governing body, PGMOL, introduced a new ‘participant behaviour charter’ which gave referees new powers to issue yellow and red cards where behaviour fell below expected standards.

Despite that, serious allegations relating to the assault and attempted assault of match officials in English grassroots football in 2023-24 increased by 32% from the previous season.

Trials of body cameras on referees are also being carried out.

In March, IFAB said the aim of the new guidance is to “prevent major confrontations” and reduce intimidation of officials by “creating a secure and calm zone around the referee”.

IFAB added: “Creating a captain-only zone will focus responsibility on the captain to encourage their team-mates to behave appropriately. The captain must take responsibility for helping ensure that their team-mates respect the captain-only zone.”

Last year an independent arbitration panel found against aspects of the league’s Associated Party Transaction regulations (APTs) after a lawsuit instigated by the champions.

The rules were formed by the Premier League to prevent clubs from profiting from commercial deals with companies linked to their owners that are deemed above “fair market value”.

In November a majority of top-flight clubs voted to approve amendments to the APTs, despite opposition from City.

In a letter to clubs on Thursday, which has been seen by BBC Sport, Premier League chief executive Richard Masters wrote, “On January 20, 2025, Manchester City FC began a further arbitration to challenge the APT rules… the new challenge relates to the amendments to the APT rules that clubs approved at the 22 November 2024 shareholders’ meeting.

“Manchester City FC seeks a declaration that the amendments approved by clubs in November (and therefore the current APT rules in force) are unlawful and void.

“The Premier League remains strongly of the view that the amendments passed in November were lawful and the APT rules comply with all competition law requirements.

“We consider that the new arbitration must be resolved as soon as possible and, to that end, have agreed that the same tribunal should be appointed to hear the new case. The parties are currently corresponding in relation to further directions.

“The APT rules remain in full force and effect and clubs remain required to comply with all aspects of the system.”

‘A legal battle that has cost millions of pounds’

Last year a tribunal ruled low-interest shareholder loans should not be excluded from the scope of the APTs, and changes made to toughen up the regulations also breached competition law.

Following the ruling, City criticised the Premier League’s “misleading” suggestion the regulations could be swiftly amended – and threatened further legal action if there was a “knee-jerk reaction”.

City insisted the league’s proposed changes “would introduce into the rules a retrospective exemption for shareholder loans… one of the very things that was found to be illegal in the recent arbitration”. It said there should be no vote on changes before a further determination by the panel.

However, the Premier League voted through the amendments despite opposition from Newcastle, Nottingham Forest and Aston Villa, as well as City.

The Premier League and City attended a two-day hearing last week to make submissions in relation to the impact of the original ruling. The panel is still deliberating.

This is the latest development in a long-running legal battle that has already cost both sides millions of pounds in legal fees.

City are also awaiting the outcome of a landmark disciplinary hearing after being charged by the Premier League with more than 100 alleged breaches of financial rules. The club denies wrongdoing.

The news about City’s latest legal challenge also comes less than a week before top-flight clubs gather for their first shareholder meeting of 2025 in London.

Both Manchester City and the Premier League declined to comment.