General Premier League Thread 2025/2026

Glad there's games on tomorrow

But just being there is not a foul and he has no obligation to get out of the way.

If you started giving penalties, as you say, why wouldn't the attacking team just continue to pile players in to the 6 yard box? Why is the defending of these corners the thing people are trying to rule out. Why do we want to encourage this from an attacking point of view?

Because standing still is not an offence? I dunno why you are getting all weird about it.

A player can't just block, they can't move and hold them off. But if they just hold their position they are not obligated to just get out of the way of the opposition. Like when you see set plays where a player will run so that the guy marking him will run into a offensive player that is standing still - effectively running a screen. the offensive player isn't obligated to get out of they way.

'why do you keep refusing to acknowledge a player is entitled to stand still'.

The implication that any impeding of the keeper is frankly wild tbh.

'If an attacker impedes the GK from getting to the ball it's obstruction and a free out.' (Nitro)

So if a keeper comes out for the ball, cant get through the group of players infront of him its a free out. What are we talking about here? so a keeper just needs to run into an attacker, fall over, and its a free out. Brilliant.

I've said its not a foul to stand still. Let the dumb **** stand still.
But per the rules you cannot impede a goalkeeper - impeding defined as "attacker moving into the keepers path to block, slow down, or force a change of direction without attempting to play the ball"

Standing like a statue is unlikely to lead to them attempting to play the ball so that would be a foul.

Furthermore "any action involving holding, pushing, or using arms/body to prevent the goalkeeper from moving to catch or punch the ball is illegal"

So standing infront of the keeper to stop him getting to the ball is a foul.

Standing still does not become 'moving into a players path'. You can't be moving, while standing still. so a key component of the foul doesn't exist. You've said it isn't a foul to stand still. so why then say standing still is moving and thus a foul?

The sad reality is I ref’d an un 12s match at the weekend and every corner was just a pushing match between a load of 11 year olds in the box. Its horrendous to watch and now the kids are copying it. Needs to be stamped out asap.

I'd love of the attackers were just standing still 😂😂😂 if anyone watched a game they would know standing still isn't the issue. It's pushing players up on top of the keeper and backing into the keeper or in arsenal's case on Sunday they pushed the defender across goal line as the ball was also crossing the line.

I can understand why arsenal fans would defend it i honestly do but how anyone can claim it's just standing still is a joke. It's ugly and not nice to watch.

This one should cover it, only 2 months since last post so it's not like it's been dead years or anything:

ah fair enough. I had seen a clip from just before he went off and down the tunnel, and thought they were related. Apologies.

The UK Independent has weighed in, with these proposals

No hands : There is one very simple change to the laws of football that would make a world of difference: banning players from putting their hands on each other. They can no longer grab, hold or place their arm across an opponent. Inadvertent contact, when going for the ball, such as challenging for a header when needing to use an arm for leverage, would be allowed as long as it is brief and only lasts while the ball is there. Certainly not before. They would not be allowed to hold. Any prolonged contact would be an offence. Simple as that.

Sin-bin for simulation: An eight-minute sin-bin for simulation. If there is a second offence by a team in the same game then the opponents are awarded a penalty and five instances by the same side over a season would result in a one-point deduction.

Only one player from each team in addition to the defending goalkeeper to be permitted in the six-yard box in a effort to end these ludicrous corner scrums.

A common-sense 10-second rule to get the ball back into play from goal-kicks, throw-ins and corners to cut out the most blatant acts of time-wasting or the opponents are awarded possession 25 yards from goal in one of two marked areas on the pitch.

Players would also have the ability to pass to themselves at throw-ins, free-kicks and corners in an effort to produce more creative set-piece routines and limit the aerial bombardment.

A 90-second VAR limit – if it is not “clear and obvious” in that time then it is not clear and obvious.

Time limits on corners: There is nothing more infuriating about the modern game than the amount of time it takes for corners to be taken. Especially when the delay is because of the referee. Officials frequently prevent corners from being delivered so they can have a stern word with the players in the penalty area about holding. What is the point of this? The players are obviously going to hold each other anyway. It is the referee’s job to punish fouls at corners, not to waste time trying to convince the players not to commit them. Just get on with the game.

Cut down substitutions: Little in modern football is ever downsized but I would advocate for a return to a maximum of three substitutions per team. The final quarter of Premier League matches is often pockmarked now by multiple stoppages to bring players on and matches lose momentum and impetus as a result.

Clearly some aren't possible - taking a free-kick to yourself, but some of the others might get discussed. Glad someone else is going nuts at referees going in talking to players, because clearly this is not their job. Drives me mental.

My understanding is that it is a 5 second countdown if the ref considers that too much time is being taken - so you can still likely spend 30/40 seconds fannying about at which stage a percentage of refs will signal the 5 seconds, but some won't. So probably not really that big a change.