This afternoon has seen Fantasy Premier League (FPL) update the stats after reviewing a couple of incidents from last weekend’s games.
Under this season’s new assist ruling (below), Wayne Rooney has another assist to his name, given for his role in this Ashley Young goal (1min03sec).
It’s a decision that’s likely to cause plenty consternation across the Fantasy world and is arguably as contentious as any Bonus Points decision that’s gone by. Under the letter of the law, though, it seems it must be applied. The Bonus Points for the match will stand, though, with Ashley Young still having a greater EA Sports PPI.
Elsewhere, Martin Petrov was awarded an assist for his role in Bolton’s late consolation at Anfield.
Crossing Potential
Certainly it seems that players supplying crosses may well be in line for increased assists. Perhaps it’s only speculation but, given that this rule change has thrown up an early example of an assist awarded which wouldn’t be given last season, we should perhaps expect more examples and an increase in assists from crossed balls.
It seems that even if a cross is unsuccessful, then, it could still be turned into a potential assist if the defending side’s clearance falls at the feet of the right opposition player, a la Ashley Young. The likes of Leighton Baines and Stewart Downing –given their number of crosses- are suddenly a little more appealing.
Assists
Assists are awarded to the player from the goal scoring team, who makes the last touch before the goal is scored.If after this touch, an opposing player touches the ball outside the penalty area altering the intended destination of the ball, then no assist is given, except if this intervention directly results in an own goal.
In the event of a penalty or free-kick, the player earning the penalty or free-kick gets an assist if a goal is directly scored, but not if he takes it himself, in which case no assist is given.
All assists are reviewed before the points are updated at the end of each day.
