It was a difficult start to life back in the Premier League for Burnley on Saturday, as they struggled in a 3-0 defeat to Spurs in North London.
Scott Parker’s Burnley were promoted as champions of the Championship but have been widely predicted to struggle on their return to the English top flight.
Recommended
Judging by their lacklustre display against an off-key Spurs, those predictions may not be wide of the mark.
Burnley offered little to the game and, despite operating well below their potential level, Spurs still ran out comfortable winners, in a worrying sign for the Premier League season to come for the Clarets.
In the opening minutes of the game, Burnley also set an unfortunate record, as they became the first team to be penalised for a new infringement introduced for the 2025-26 season.
READ HERE: Report: Saga Over Dublin-Born Premier League Star’s Eligibility Ends With Unexpected Choice
READ HERE: Tearful Mo Salah Joined The Kop’s Rendition Of Diogo Jota Chant In Powerful Moment
Martin Dubravka penalised on Premier League opening day for breaking obscure new rule
Martin Dubravka became the first Premier League goalkeeper to be penalised for the updated rules on how long goalkeepers can keep hold of the ball.
It has long been one of the least-enforced rules in football that goalkeepers must release the ball after six seconds, and football’s rulemakers have made some tweaks this year in an attempt to stamp out this issue.
This year will see attacking teams rewarded with a corner kick, should the goalkeeper hold the ball for longer than eight seconds.
In the opening four minutes of Burnley’s visit to Spurs on the opening day of the Premier League, Dubravka fell foul of the new rules.
New signing Dubravka rose highest to claim a cross, taking hold of the ball with the clock at 3:11.
It was a full eight seconds before Dubravka even bounced the ball.
The referee did not call the infringement immediately but, after another six seconds, he blew his whistle and awarded Spurs a corner, prompting applause from their manager Thomas Frank.
Dubravka initially protested before throwing the ball away in frustration at being caught out by the new rules.
It’s an intriguing change and, should it be enforced with any regularity, we can hope it will improve the flow of Premier League games this coming season.
Elsewhere on the opening day, Aston Villa drew 0-0 with Newcastle, while newly-promoted Sunderland stunned West Ham with a 3-0 win on their return to the Premier League. Brighton were held to a 1-1 draw by Fulham, with Rodrigo Muniz equalising in the last minute.
SEE ALSO: Ex-Ireland Soccer International Managing Cork Club’s Run At Hurling Championship
