Premier League's new crackdown on corner chaos

Referees are told to be stronger and stricter as the Premier League tackles penalty-area grappling.

What happened. The Premier League has instructed referees to be stronger and stricter on holding and grappling in the penalty area, following a season of chaos at corners.

• Focus on holding actions with clear material impact.
• Players prevented from playing the ball will be penalised most.
• A quarter of 20 missed VAR interventions last season involved such incidents.

“You get the feeling now that referees really don't want to get involved in any of it.”

— David Moyes

The new approach will be tested from the opening weekend, with champions Arsenal hosting promoted Coventry.

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