Premier League corner chaos: How can football's lawmakers sort the issue?
Holding, wrestling, and battling have become integral to the Premier League's corner kicks, sparking debates on how to address the growing issue. While more goals are being scored, the physical confrontations have reached a comical level, with defenders grappling with attackers and vice versa.
Former Premier League assistant referee Darren Cann emphasized the need for action, stating that corner situations often involve 16 players packed into the six-yard box, making it challenging for referees to manage. This has led to questions about responsibility: should referees, players, or coaches take the lead in addressing this behavior?
Everton boss David Moyes believes referees should take the initiative, criticizing their lack of action as 'poor'. He cited the Everton-Manchester United match, where Everton players stood on the goalkeeper and were pushed into the net, indicating referees' reluctance to intervene. This trend is further exacerbated by the increasing importance of set-pieces in the Premier League, prompting teams to employ distraction tactics.
Cann explained that attackers crowd the goalkeeper to hinder their movement, while defenders focus more on their opponents than the ball. Moyes attributed Arsenal's success in this area to their 'dark arts' and blocking strategies. The recent Arsenal-Chelsea game showcased Arsenal's aggressive corner tactics, resulting in two goals and a 2-1 loss for Chelsea.
Liam Rosenior, Chelsea's manager, acknowledged the need to take control of set-piece defending. Arne Slot, from Liverpool, expressed concern over the game's image, believing the Premier League is becoming less enjoyable to watch due to frequent player fouls. Slot suggested that fouls in other leagues would be called, but in England, the goal stands.
The Premier League's high threshold for fouls and VAR intervention has allowed much of the holding to go unnoticed. While seven penalties have been awarded for this offense this season, with four after VAR intervention, social media often highlights instances of holding without any intervention. This has led to fan frustration and the perception that VAR is inconsistent.
Cann proposed potential solutions, including changing the law to penalize behavior once the referee whistles to restart play, and requiring attackers to start outside the goal area before the corner is taken. However, the International Football Association Board (IFAB) has not yet addressed these changes, and Scottish Football Association chief executive Ian Maxwell dismissed the need for specific discussion on grappling.
Despite the ongoing debate, the focus remains on players and coaches striving for an edge. The question remains: is a law change necessary to curb the physical confrontations at corners, or is it a unique Premier League problem?
