The Premier League’s new plan to end corner chaos

Last season, corner clashes in the Premier League were a source of frustration for players and officials alike. Everton boss David Moyes lamented the lack of referee involvement in these confrontations, which were often deemed poor by Moyes. The West Ham-Arsenal game in May, where up to five potential fouls occurred simultaneously at a corner, became a key topic of discussion among captains, coaches, referees and other stakeholders.

In response to these issues, the Premier League has announced plans for the upcoming season, with referees instructed to be more stringent in penalising clear non-footballing actions. The focus will be on behaviours such as holding, pushing, shoving, jostling, grappling and wrestling inside the penalty area that have a significant impact on the game.

While the laws have not changed, the emphasis on player behaviour has increased. Officials will now pay more attention to situations where a player is prevented from playing the ball, which affects the flow of play. The biggest change will be a stronger emphasis on non-footballing holding actions, such as a defender with their back to a set-piece who only intends to prevent an attacker's movement.

Howard Webb, the Premier League referees' chief, expressed his desire for referees to be more proactive in penalising such behaviours. He noted that there will be fewer warnings and more actions penalised, with the ultimate goal of modifying player behaviour rather than avoiding penalties altogether. However, Webb clarified that the high threshold for penalising contact between players will still be maintained.

The implementation of this new plan has sparked some debate among players. While some feel that the guidelines will lead to more accurate decisions, others believe that subjective interpretations may still result in split opinions. Despite this, the Premier League remains committed to improving the quality of refereeing decisions, especially in the crucial moments of corner kicks.