Premier League set for stricter penalty calls on holding offences

LONDON: Premier League referees are expected to award more penalties this season in response to a clampdown on holding and grappling inside the box, according to Howard Webb, chief operating officer of the PGMOL.

Webb revealed on Thursday that feedback from a recent survey suggested too many clear holding offences went unpunished last season. As a result, referees will be encouraged to take a firmer stance on players who drag or hold opponents, particularly during set pieces.

He emphasized that VAR will also play a greater role in addressing “extreme non-footballing actions,” such as players being clearly pulled to the ground, even away from the ball. However, Webb clarified that not every incident would be escalated, and there would still be grey areas where the referee’s on-field judgment would remain final.

“We expect to see a few more penalties for holding offences,” Webb said. “But it won’t be a massive swing—we’re looking for consistency and fairness, not overreaction.”

Last season, Nottingham Forest were awarded a penalty after a VAR check when Brighton’s Tariq Lamptey was judged to have bundled over Morgan Gibbs-White—an example Webb cited of the type of incident likely to be penalised more often moving forward.(Reuters)