The Premier League’s New Plan to End Corner Chaos
By Dale Johnson, Football Issues Correspondent
Holding, pushing, shoving, jostling, and grappling inside the penalty area became an epidemic in the Premier League last season. As Everton manager David Moyes noted, referees seemed reluctant to intervene. This issue gained significant attention during stakeholder consultations over the summer.
Now, the Premier League plans to tackle this head-on when the season kicks off on Friday night with Coventry’s visit to Arsenal. Referees have been instructed to be more assertive and penalize clear non-footballing actions strictly. While the laws remain largely unchanged, there will be a sharper focus on player behavior that impedes play.
How Set-Pieces Will Be Referreed Differently
Referees will pay closer attention to "holding actions that have clear material impact." This includes:
- Focusing solely on the opponent, ignoring the ball.
- Making no attempt to challenge for the ball.
- Holding an opponent with both arms.
- Sustained or impactful holding of an opponent or their clothing.
This means defenders who block attackers without looking at the ball or attempting to play it will face penalties.
Howard Webb, the Premier League referees’ chief, emphasizes that officials should be proactive and confident in penalizing these actions. The goal is to reduce warnings and increase the direct application of rules, encouraging players to modify their behavior.
While the World Cup saw fewer corner chaos instances with enhanced goalkeeper protection, the Premier League will take a different approach, avoiding strict rules on keeper interactions.
