‘Grappling’ laws explained

Referees have been in the headlines in the opening weeks of the Premier League season after enforcing – and then failing to consistently enforce – laws around grappling in the penalty area.

Following a pre-season directive to referees to get tough on shirt-pulling and blocking in the penalty box at corners and free-kicks, Stoke City’s Ryan Shawcross and Manchester City’s Raheem Sterling were both penalised in the same game in the second round of fixtures, while Bournemouth’s Charlie Daniels was punished on Saturday for a challenge on Crystal Palace’s Christian Benteke.

However, also this weekend, Tottenham’s Jan Vertonghen escaped with a warning when he hauled down Liverpool’s Joel Matip, while Swansea City’s Federico Fernandez and Leicester City’s Daniel Amartey also escaped punishment for similar offences.

The variation in punishments has caused frustration among players, managers and supporters alike, with Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp conceding he was unclear on the rules and Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho calling for a systematic approach across the board.

“My problem with new rules is always the consistency or inconsistency in the decisions,” said Mourinho. “The grab, the pull of the shirt, not looking at the ball and just at the player to grab them – this is a penalty, but it has to be a penalty every time, with every club, with every …

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