The FA have announced that they will introduce retrospective action in cases where an official is not in a position to fully assess a 'coming together' of players.
Retrospective action was only previously available to the FA if none of the officials had seen the incident or when the incident was "truly exceptional".
The rule change was sparked by an incident involving Wigan Athletic's Callum McManaman and Newcastle United's Massimo Haidara last season.
McManaman committed a knee-high challenge on Haidara, forcing the Newcastle defender to miss part of the season through injury, although the damage was not as bad as first feared.
The referee's view of the incident was partially blocked, but in his post-match report he confirmed that he had seen it, ruling out any possibility of retrospective action.
"From the start of the new season, The FA will reserve the right to take retrospective action when match officials are not in a position to fully assess a 'coming together' of players," read a statement on the FA's official website.
"The amendment follows a tackle last season involving Wigan's Callum McManaman and Newcastle United's Massadio Haidara in which the match referee's view of the incident was blocked whilst the other match officials were not in a position to judge exactly what had occurred.
"This change is not intended to usurp the authority of the match officials who are, in the vast majority of cases, best-placed to deal with incidents at the time they occur. It will only be utilised in the rare circumstances outlined above."
The change comes after much criticism of the FA's disciplinary procedure in recent years.
Barney Corkhill
