Set-plays have been in the headlines again this week, especially at corners with masses of players from both sides surrounding the six-yard box and the goalkeeper. I watched and rewatched many of these incidents myself and witnessed defending players holding attacking players around the waist, and not even looking at the delivery. In fact, we're at the stage now where referees have to clamp down and give either penalties, or free-kicks to the defending team, if they see an offence. Howard Webb, where are you, and what instructions are you actually giving out to your officials as the head of Professional Games Match Officials Limited (PGMOL)? That tells me that if the referees start dishing out penalties and red cards, then it would not carry on.

Source: BBC March 06, 2026 11:00 UTC