The 2018/2019 English football season kicks-off with unprecedented innovations. Among them is the decision by the Football Association (FA) to book coaches for poor conducts against referees during matches. Henceforth, they risk yellow and red cards for insults and violent gestures like kicks and shooting of objects in protests of match commissioner’s decision(s).

Four, eight and twelve yellow cards levied against a trainer are respectively tantamount to one, two and three match suspensions. The new FA rule will be tested during Division 2 championship, FA Cup and League Cup matches. With more shopping expected ahead of the close of the transfer window on Thursday, 9 August, the race to succeed defending Premier League title holders, Manchester City, will be launched this Friday.

 In the opening game, José Mourinho’s Manchester United take on Leicester at 9pm. Arsenal lock horns with Manchester City and Newcastle will have an axe to grind against Tottenham in what has been rated as scintillating Day one encounters. Consult the Agenda column for other fixtures.