Wrexham’s Tozer on EFL towel ban: It could ‘ruin my career’

Wrexham defender Ben Tozer has criticised the English Football League (EFL) ban on towels to dry the ball earlier than lengthy throw-ins, claiming the ways usually are not “anti-football.”

The new rule on the towel ban permitted earlier this month may also forestall gamers from utilizing objects of clothes provided up by followers to dry the ball for higher grip.

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Instead, the EFL will comply with the Premier League’s instance of a multi-ball system to hurry up play in its competitions from the 2023-24 season.

The lengthy throw-in was considered one of Wrexham’s only weapons final season as they gained promotion to the fourth-tier League Two and Tozer joked that with out towels to dry the ball he may be redundant within the squad.

“I might have upset someone in the EFL because they’re trying to ruin my career. I nearly had to hand my retirement straight away,” he instructed The Leader.

“I understand it because some people see it as anti-football, but it’s part of football. Throw-ins are just like a corner or a penalty, they are set pieces.

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“We had a little bit of a bonus however there are methods round every little thing and I’ve bought the shirt that I’m carrying. I can nonetheless dry the ball with that. I’m certain there shall be different methods round it as properly.”

Long throw-ins grew to become standard within the Premier League when Tony Pulis’s Stoke City employed the tactic and had nice success with Rory Delap launching the ball into the penalty space — successfully making it a set-piece.

Clubs had even resorted to bringing the promoting hoardings surrounding the pitch nearer to the road to disrupt his run-up.

Wrexham, owned by Hollywood actors Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, will start their League Two marketing campaign at residence to MK Dons when the season begins on Aug. 5.

But they are going to first entertain their new-found followers within the United States once they face Chelsea and Manchester United in subsequent month’s preseason tour.