Fantasy Premier League (FPL) has a reputation for being a game of fine margins. One of the most debated and sometimes frustrating aspects for managers has always been the awarding of assists. A brilliant pass that gets a slight deflection before a goal has often resulted in a big fat zero for the player who made the crucial contribution.
Keep in mind FPL has different assist rules to regular stats, if a player wins a penalty, in FPL he gets an assist but that does not actually count to his official assist tally. This is why you would see players in FPL having more assists than official statistics.
FPL has always had a gray area for intended destination crosses. Previously, if a pass or cross was deflected by an opponent and went to a different player than the one it was intended for, an assist would not be awarded.
Seasoned players will remember the Solly March issue although that was a goal and not an assist, it highlighted the flaw in FPL’s system. The Issue was involving a goal against Leeds. Brighton appealed the decision to credit their second goal as an own goal by Leeds’ Jack Harrison, and the Premier League’s Goal Accreditation Appeals Panel later credited the goal to Solly March.
Intended Destination Rule
Previously, if a pass or cross was deflected by an opponent and went to a different player than the one it was intended for, an assist would not be awarded. The new rule changes this, making the intended destination of the pass irrelevant under specific circumstances.
An assist will now be awarded even after a defensive deflection, provided that:
- There is only one defensive touch before the ball reaches the goal scorer
- The goal scorer receives the ball inside the penalty box.
Defensive Errors and Handballs
The new rules also address the gray area of defensive errors. Previously, a goal scored from an unforced defensive error often resulted in no assist. Now, an assist will be given in such a scenario, as long as the defensive error wasn’t a pass and there was only one defensive touch.
Handballs have also been clarified. Since last season, due to a new ruling we started seeing more penalties awarded for handballs. To clear the air, FPL has made it so that , if a goal is scored from a free-kick or penalty conceded from a handball, an assist will now be given to the player who made the last attacking action before the handball was awarded.
More Points
These changes are great news for managers who invest in creative and attacking players. Players who are known for their crosses and clever passes that sometimes take a slight nick off an opponent will be particularly appealing. The new rules could lead to a higher average points total for key playmakers wingers and wingbacks such as Diouf and Munoz, making them even more valuable assets.
