Referees chief Webb wants clamp-down on Premier League set-piece grappling

Premier League clubs have been given a stern warning from the game's chief refereeing officer, Howard Webb, to expect stricter enforcement of set-piece grappling and holding violations in the upcoming season. Webb expressed concern over the abundance of unpunished instances where defenders have been seen dragging attackers to the ground during corners and free-kicks last year.

Arsenal's success on the back of their exceptional set-piece skills has sparked complaints from rival managers and fans, who perceive the team's tactics as unfair. Webb is optimistic about referees and Video Assistant Referee (VAR) officials being more vigilant, starting with Arsenal's opening match against Coventry at the Emirates Stadium on Friday.

The chief officiating officer expects fans to see a decrease in warnings before fouls are called, but an increase in penalisation throughout the season.

One new development in the new season is the ability for VAR to review attacking fouls at set-pieces and order their re-take if a goal, penalty or disciplinary sanction follows. Webb, a former Premier League and FIFA referee, remains cautious about disrupting the flow of the game with frequent stoppages for fouls at set-pieces. He emphasizes the importance of maintaining a high threshold for penalties while acknowledging the need for more offences to be penalised.

Webb also expressed concern over FIFA's decision to overturn American forward Folarin Balogun's red card during the World Cup, which he believes has fueled the belief in refereeing conspiracies among supporters. He argues that decisions were previously viewed as correct or incorrect based on one's judgment, but now they are often perceived as correct or corrupt by those who wish to spread misinformation on social media.