Crystal Palace Penalized for Delayed Substitution Under New English Football Rule

Crystal Palace was penalized for playing a full minute with ten men after Anan Halili delayed his substitution during their 1-4 loss to Manchester City on August 28, 2026. Halili started the match but was replaced in the 75th minute; however, his slow exit from the pitch triggered the new rule that punishes teams for time-wasting substitutions. The rule, introduced this season, mandates that if a player takes more than ten seconds to leave the field after the substitution board is raised, the team must play one minute with one player less, regardless of the match score.

Former Arsenal player and popular English commentator Martin Keown criticized the rule's inconsistent application, noting that Manchester City’s substitution took longer but was not penalized, which caused frustration. Another commentator, Joe Shinan, explained that the rule aims to prevent time-wasting, though he acknowledged Halili was not trying to waste time while trailing 3-1 but simply took too long to leave the field.

The incident has sparked debate about the fairness and consistency of the new substitution timing rule in the English Premier League, with calls for adjustments to ensure equal enforcement across all teams.