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

The Premier League is set to implement stricter rules against holding and grappling during corner kicks and free-kicks for the upcoming season. Referees across all levels of the English football pyramid have been instructed to focus on "non-footballing holding actions" that impede opponents from competing for the ball or moving into dangerous positions.

This includes players who engage in holding an opponent with both arms or persistently hold a player or their clothing. Premier League referees' chief Howard Webb emphasized that officials should act decisively, rather than repeatedly issuing warnings, to penalize such actions. The league aims to maintain a high threshold for physical contact, particularly involving goalkeepers, but will not tolerate deliberate attempts to obstruct play.

This change could significantly impact set-piece strategies, as clubs scored a record 25.7% of all goals from corners and free-kicks last season. Arsenal, Manchester United, and Tottenham Hotspur led in set-piece goals, while Liverpool conceded the most set-piece conceded goals. The new approach seeks to discourage actions that have no genuine connection to playing the ball without eliminating the physicality inherent in the game.