Lots of grappling happens before the ball is in play, and a referee can do no more than stop the game and order a retake.
This does not really prevent it happening again. And again.
This is not just defenders holding on to attackers. Everyone has been at it, an unedifying trend throughout the campaign.
At the end of every season, PGMO canvasses the opinions of stakeholders – coaches, captains, fans, media rights holders – on issues with how the game is refereed in the Premier League.
It is used to gauge opinion outside of the referees’ own echo chamber, and away from the headlines.
In the past it has led to a tweak to handball, for instance.
This summer, hair pulling and grappling in the box might come up.
Maybe referees will try to clamp down and issue more yellow cards before the ball is in play.
Because right row there seem to be five or six potential fouls on every corner.
Former Premier League assistant referee Darren Cann told Match of the Day that he would make a drastic change.
“I feel that the time has come now for a law change whereby no attackers are allowed in the six-yard box before the corner is taken,” Cann said.
“Lots of teams grapple at corners, sometimes before the ball has come into play, and then obviously the referee can’t give a penalty, can’t give an indirect free-kick, if the ball is not in play.
“So this would create that natural separation and eradicate these kind of situations.”
Another suggestion is to make the play ‘live’ as soon as the ball is placed in the quadrant.
The law change would mean penalties and free-kicks could be given for fouls made before the corner is taken.
It creates a buffer between the set-up of the play, and the ball being delivered into the box.
It could remove the potential fouls as the ball is about to be delivered, as players would need to disengaged for a few seconds before this.
The other option, of course, is that teams change the way they play and stop trying to find the minor gains by pushing the laws to the absolute limit.
That sounds like wishful thinking.
