Source:REUTERS/Andrew Couldridge
[Saba Sports News] According to British media reports, senior executives from Premier League clubs have held talks over set-piece issues. Directors of football from Premier League clubs have discussed the frequency of goals from set pieces and holding and grappling inside the penalty area, amid concerns that these trends are harming the spectacle of the game. Directors of football from the top flight meet regularly for formal discussions, with set pieces being a recent topic of conversation. Club managers and captains also hold regular meetings, and these discussions help inform the so-called “football principles” that shape how decisions are made during matches. The Premier League also consults all stakeholders, including fans, through its annual “Football Survey”, which can also lead to changes in the rules.
The editor believes that referees are penalizing holding and grappling in line with Premier League guidance, but they are restricted by the fact that they cannot award free kicks when the ball is not in play under the laws of the game. As a result, shoving and pulling before corner kicks are particularly common. Eighteen percent of goals in the Premier League this season have come from corners, the highest percentage in the competition’s history.