The Premier League have issued a ban on elaborate pitch patterns ahead of the 2017/18 season, putting an end to some of the incredible designs which had slowly been creeping into top-flight football.
The league authority will no longer allow teams to curate their pitch surface in a way that does not conform to the new strict guidelines.
Clubs will only be able to have their playing surface cut into traditional horizontal lines, with any other design set to be deemed against regulation.
The Premier League have issued a ban on elaborate pitch patterns prior to the 2017/18 season
Any designs which do not adhere to the traditional horizontal pattern are no longer permitted
Southampton, along with Leicester, took great pride in the patterns of their playing surface
The Premier League announced the changes this week, as part of a package of 10 new developments for the coming campaign.
Stating via their official website, the Premier League have clarified: 'Pitch patterns and designs will no longer be allowed in the Premier League in 2017/18.
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Share 3.7k shares'Rules state that the playing surface must contain no markings other than the traditional horizontal and white lines.
'This amendment brings the Premier League Rules into line with UEFA's regulations for its competitions and follows consultation with the Premier League Club groundsmen,' it added.
Pitches with great levels of artistic design had been slowly creeping into top flight football
UEFA guidelines stipulate pitches must contain only 'traditional horizontal and white lines'
The King Power pitch has seen multiple highly crafted designs, including star patterning
The move brings the league closer to European ruling, and is believed to help pitch visibility
The Premier League informed the groundsmen of each club of their decision to ban designs
Leicester took to their social media accounts to offer a light-hearted reaction to the news
The news will come as a blow to the likes of Leicester City and Southampton, who have captured the imagination in recent seasons with their forward-thinking designs.
The King Power Stadium could have been mistaken for an artistic installation in recent campaigns, with groundsmen excelling themselves by creating patterns including cross hatching, star designs and even a fully replicated club crest.
Southampton and Arsenal have also been among those clubs who have received awards for the conditions and presentation of their playing surfaces, while Manchester United scooped last season's Groundsmen of the Year award.
Rules from the European governing body UEFA state that the playing surface must contain no markings 'other than traditional horizontal and white lines.'
The Premier League are believed to have consulted the staff of each of their 20 competing clubs for next season, before making the change public knowledge.
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Share 3.7k sharesncG1vNJzZmivp6x7pa3IpbCmmZmhe6S7ja6iaKugpL%2B1e8Crq6KbnJp6dYOUcGdwcF%2BFv6a5yJ6pZoSVlrS2sYybmKerXZq5oq7Oq5itnV2ltrWvx2abnquZnLu0eZFpaHBlYW17qcDMpQ%3D%3D