The Premier League is introducing new rules this season aimed at reducing the "epidemic" of holding, pushing, shoving, jostling, and grappling, particularly during corner kicks and other set-piece situations. The changes are intended to address what has become a common and frustrating aspect of recent seasons.
Pro Ref, the new designation for the referees' body in England, has been visiting training grounds to brief players on the updated expectations. These sessions involve reviewing clips of past incidents to clarify what will and will not be permissible under the new guidelines.
Under the revised interpretations, actions that were previously overlooked or deemed acceptable will now be penalized. For example, clips shown to players included instances like Brentford's Keane Lewis-Potter holding West Ham's Tomas Soucek off the ball, and Sunderland's Luke O'Nien pulling Leeds United's Pascal Struijk. These are now classified as "non-footballing holding actions that have no place on the football pitch."
Referees and VAR officials face a complex balancing act in applying these rules consistently. The league acknowledges that some situations remain "grey areas" where opinions can be divided. One such example involved Crystal Palace's Marc Guehi being pulled down, with the on-field referee awarding a penalty. While some players believed Guehi had initiated contact, others saw it as a clear holding offense. The league's stance is that while on-field decisions are permitted, VAR interventions should be more judicious in such borderline cases to avoid frustrating one set of players or fans.
To aid officials, Pro Ref continues its practice of providing pre-game dossiers about teams' playing styles. These dossiers, compiled by skilled analysts, highlight tactical setups and potential problem areas, not to pre-emptively influence decisions, but to help referees position themselves effectively and be more likely to spot infringements. This includes adjusting referee positioning for attacking set-pieces to gain a better vantage point. The aim is to provide officials with information that improves their chances of identifying fouls without pre-judging player behavior.