Arsenal defeated Newcastle 2-1 away in this round of Premier League. In the game, Calafiori tried to wipe the ball with a towel while throwing the sideline ball, but was stopped by the referee, which aroused heated discussions among fans. The BBC explained the reason behind this.
It is reported that before the Premier League, the two clubs must reach an agreement on whether to provide towels in the stadium. If a consensus is not reached, towels shall not be used. Because Newcastle and Arsenal did not agree on the use of towels, the referee stopped Calafiori from using towels.
But if an agreement is reached between clubs, players can use towels during the game. This is exactly why Lerma was able to wipe the ball with a towel before throw-in in the game against Liverpool - this time the ball eventually created the winning goal in Crystal Palace's countdown.
Current rules do not prohibit goalkeepers from using towels to wipe gloves or sweat on their bodies. In the English Football League (EFL, including the Championship, the English League One, and the English League Two), towels have been banned since the 2023-24 season. EFL clubs voted to ban the use of other items such as towels (including items obtained from spectators) in the game.
The International Football Association Council (IFAB), which is responsible for formulating football rules, has not yet issued any provisions on the use of towels.