A-League to revert to goal difference as the preferred method to rank clubs that finish on the same points

A rule that angered many A-League clubs has been altered ahead of the new season that kicks off on Friday night.

Goal difference will be the determining factor to rank clubs that finish on the same points on the A-League ladder following a change in the competition’s rules and regulations.

Players and coaches were unhappy last season when the total number of wins from each team was the top method used to rank clubs that finished on the same points.

However, following an off-season review from the Australian Professional Leagues that included consultation with clubs and fans, the A-League will again fall into line with almost every other competition around the world by using goal difference as the top way to separate teams if they accumulate the same amount of points.

If teams are locked together on both points and goal difference, the side that has scored more goals will be ranked higher, with the total number of wins to be the determining ranking after that if the goal tally is also the same.

“Whatever they change with the rules, you just have to adapt,” Western United coach John Aloisi said.

“We’re a team that will want to score a lot of goals and try to score a lot of goals and look to concede very few.

“If you do that well them normally you’re going to get the points and the wins anyway, and then goal difference will make a difference if you are on equal points.”

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Meanwhile, VAR will again be used in A-League men’s matches but still not in women’s A-League games.

“The implications of VAR are significant in terms of venue infrastructure, TV production and technology and are not feasible for the A-League women as it stands,” an APL statement said.

“The APL regularly reviews all operational elements of the game in line with global standards, and this includes VAR, and this will continue to be a topic under discussion in seasons to come.”

A “permanent concussion substitutes protocol” will be introduced in both the men’s and women’s competitions.

The rule will allow one concussion substitution per team and one additional substitute per team.

The extra permanent concussion substitution can take place when a player who has an actual or suspected concussion is substituted.

This substitution doesn’t count as one of the team’s “normal” substitutions.

“Cooling breaks”, which were previously know as “drinks breaks”, will be extended from 90 seconds to up to three minutes and can be used if the ambient temperature hits 31C or higher and/or when the wet bulb globe temperature is measured at 26C or higher before kick-off.

Originally published as A-League to revert to goal difference as the preferred method to rank clubs that finish on the same points