EPL: Referees to crack down on grappling at corners, free-kicks

The Premier League has announced stricter enforcement against holding and grappling during set pieces such as corners and free-kicks during the upcoming season. Referees are being instructed to focus on deliberate holding actions that hinder opponents from competing for the ball or moving into dangerous areas. This change aims to tackle non-footballing holding behaviors, such as when a player only focuses on an opponent, makes no attempt to play the ball, uses both arms to hold an opponent, or persists in holding a player or their clothing.

Premier League referees' chief Howard Webb emphasized that officials should act decisively, reducing warnings and penalizing more actions. The tougher stance follows concerns over missed VAR interventions last season, particularly when players were wrestled to the ground away from the ball. The league will maintain a high threshold for contact, ensuring ordinary bumps won't result in a goal being ruled out, but a goalkeeper's restricted movement could still be penalized.

This new approach could significantly impact set-piece tactics, with clubs having scored a record 25.7% of all goals from set pieces last season. Arsenal led with 25 set-piece goals, while Liverpool conceded the most at 19. The objective is to discourage actions that lack genuine connection with playing the ball, forcing clubs to reconsider their defending and attacking strategies at corners and free-kicks.

Webb stressed that the aim is not to eliminate physicality but to reduce unnecessary grappling tactics.