FIFA has no intentions to alter corner-kick regulations; IFAB reports that player behavior is ‘not deteriorating’
FIFA does not intend to implement new strategies to tackle the increasing concern of grappling and holding during corner situations, as the game’s governing body — the International Football Association Board (IFAB) — indicated that the issue is “not getting worse.”
Premier League matches are increasingly characterized by more physical interactions at corners, particularly with players aggressively grappling, blocking, pushing, and obstructing goalkeepers prior to the ball being delivered into the penalty area.
Liverpool manager Arne Slot remarked that the Premier League has become less enjoyable to watch due to the corner situation, while Manchester United goalkeeper Senne Lammens stated after his team’s 1-0 victory against Everton last week, where the home team had 10 corners, that he had to “remain behind my line in order to come out” because players from both sides were grappling in the six-yard area.
Premier League frontrunners Arsenal have netted 16 goals directly from corners this season — a tally that matches the all-time Premier League record — and Mikel Arteta’s squad has faced criticism for their physical tactics when attacking corners.
However, after an IFAB meeting in Cardiff over the weekend, where new measures aimed at reducing time-wasting during throw-ins and goal kicks were confirmed, the physical concerns at corners were not considered significant enough to warrant action.
“It wasn’t something that we specifically discussed,” said Ian Maxwell, CEO of the Scottish FA and IFAB member. “Whether there’s been a shift in that type of behavior during matches, those things occur over the course of a season, but I’m not convinced it’s necessarily worsening.”
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According to the laws of the game, the ball is not considered in play until a set-piece has been executed, which prevents referees from calling a foul unless the game is active.
Nonetheless, despite this technicality in the regulations, Maxwell noted that officials can still act within the Laws once the ball is in play.
“It’s clearly in the protocol because it could effectively result in a penalty if there’s grappling at a corner,” Maxwell explained. “So within the existing protocol, that can be evaluated.”
