Premier League referees will take a stricter approach to holding, pushing and other off-the-ball offences at corners and other set-piece situations from the start of the new season, BBC Sport understands.
Officials have been instructed to penalise clear infringements more consistently, rather than relying primarily on warnings. Particular attention will be paid to holding that prevents an opponent from moving freely or attempting to play the ball.
The guidance is aimed at changing players’ behaviour and reducing the number of incidents in which attackers and defenders use illegal physical contact during dead-ball situations. Howard Webb, head of England’s refereeing body, said that influencing player conduct and cutting down on such episodes were the central objectives of the revised approach.
The changes will not mean that every physical challenge at a corner is automatically punished. Normal contact within the laws of the game will remain permitted, and a minor collision involving a goalkeeper will not, by itself, be sufficient reason to disallow a goal.
However, referees will intervene when a player deliberately restricts a goalkeeper’s movement. An example would be grabbing the goalkeeper’s arm, which will be treated as an offence under the new emphasis.
The decision to tighten enforcement follows the number of goals scored from set-pieces in the Premier League last season. There were 269 such goals during the most recent campaign, accounting for 25.7% of all goals scored.
That was the highest proportion recorded among the leading European leagues, highlighting the importance of set-piece situations and the increased focus on how players compete during them.
The updated instructions apply not only to corners but also to other set-piece routines, where players can attempt to block, hold or move opponents before the ball arrives. While some contact has traditionally been accepted as part of the contest, referees are now expected to identify and punish conduct that clearly interferes with an opponent’s ability to move or challenge for the ball.
The distinction will therefore be between permitted physical contact and actions that restrict an opponent. A brief coming-together with a goalkeeper will remain acceptable, but preventing the goalkeeper from moving through an intentional hold will constitute a foul.
The recommendation to issue fewer informal warnings and record more obvious offences is intended to provide a clearer standard for players and teams. The approach will also apply when similar incidents occur away from the immediate challenge for the ball, provided the contact affects an opponent’s movement or ability to participate in the set piece.
With set-piece goals making up more than a quarter of all Premier League goals last season, the stricter interpretation is designed to address an increasingly significant part of matches while preserving ordinary contact allowed under the laws.
