Javi Gracia could receive yellow cards next season, as part of changes to the Laws of the Game that have been approved by the International Football Association Board (IFAB).

As part of the changes, Premier League referees will now be able to show coaches a yellow card or a red card in the same way they do with players on the pitch.

A string of offences for which yellow or red cards may be issued to coaching staff can be seen on the IFAB website.

Included in those are "dissent by word or action including: throwing/kicking drinks bottles or other objects and gestures which show a clear lack of respect for the match official(s) e.g. sarcastic

clapping" for which a coach would receive a yellow card.

Red cards can be issued to coaching staff for "delaying the restart of play by the opposing team e.g. holding onto the ball, kicking the ball away, obstructing the movement of a player" and "entering the field of play to confront a match official (including at half-time and full-time)."

Coaching staff can be sent off for two yellow card offences, much in the same way that a player can.

Furthermore, Gracia will be held accountable for the rest of his coaching staff and would receive a card on their behalf, if another member of his coaching team commits an offence, but cannot be identified.

The changes to the laws also affect several other areas of the game, including handballs.

The IFAB has clarified the situation in regards to handball decisions ahead of next season after a season in which ambiguity around the issue of handball has been a particular bone of contention.

The Laws of the Game state: "Football does not accept a goal being scored by a hand/arm (even if accidental)" and that "Football expects a player to be penalised for handball if they gain possession/control of the ball from their hand/arm and gain a major advantage e.g. score or create a goal-scoring opportunity."

Where the rules provide some leeway is in what is regarded as a natural position for the arm to be in.

IFAB's laws state: "It is natural for a player to put their arm between their body and the ground for support when falling" but "having the hand/arm above shoulder height is rarely a ‘natural’ position and a player is ‘taking a risk’ by having the hand/arm in that position, including when sliding.

"If the ball comes off the player’s body, or off another player (of either team) who is close by, onto the hand/arm it is often impossible to avoid contact with the ball."

As part of the handball changes, players can be sent off for denying a goal with a hand, even if it is accidental.

The laws have been changed to state that denying the opposing team a goal or an obvious goal-scoring opportunity by "a handball offence" is deemed worthy of a red card, where last season it specified that a player had to "deliberately" handle a ball to be sent off.

The word "deliberate" has been stricken from several places in the IFAB's laws and replaced with the term "a handball offence" in a bid to be less ambiguous.

Another rule which has been introduced for next season sees some major alterations to substitutions that hope to reduce time wasting.

Now players will have to leave the pitch at the nearest point rather than walk across the field to the technical areas.

Other minor, yet nonetheless interesting changes will see attacking teams no longer permitted to have a player in the defensive wall for a free-kick.

Where a wall exists of at least three players, those on the attacking team must stand at least one metre from the wall.

IFAB state: "There is no legitimate tactical justification for attackers to be in the ‘wall’ and their presence is against the ‘spirit of the game’ and often damages the image of the game."

Lastly, the behaviour of goalkeepers in penalty situations has been assessed and from next season they will have to have one foot on the line when the kick is taken.

Furthermore, they will not be allowed to touch the goalposts before the ball is kicked.