Mark Clattenburg has given his assesment of the rules around corner kicks after the incident involving Marc Cucurella during Chelsea’s win over Tottenham.
A highly controversial flashpoint occurred during the 85th minute of Chelsea’s 2-1 victory over Tottenham when Marc Cucurella was cautioned following a heated corner routine.
The Chelsea left-back appeared to aggressively wrestle Spurs defender Micky van de Ven to the floor, sparking furious protests from the visitors who demanded a penalty.
However, referee Stuart Attwell correctly applied IFAB Law 12 regarding fouls and misconduct. The regulations explicitly state that a direct free-kick or penalty can only be awarded for an offense committed while the ball is actively in play.
Because video assistant referee John Brooks confirmed that Cucurella’s wrestling match took place just before the corner was actually delivered, a penalty could not be legally given. Instead, the referee’s only recourse was to stop play and issue a yellow card for unsporting behavior before ordering the set-piece to be re-taken.
What is ONE law you would change or introduce in football?👀
Stop the clock rather than additional time like in Rugby!
Marc Clattenburg on Marc Cucurella incident during Spurs vs Chelsea
Photo by Jacques Feeney/Offside/Offside via Getty Images
Mark Clattenburg says FIFA and IFAB have meetings already in place
Speaking exclusively to The Chelsea Chronicle, Mark Clattenburg believes that a potential rule change could be on the agenda with a meeting between IFAB an FIFA set for next year.
“Yes I know IFAB and FIFA are looking at how to combat the clear holding and pulling at corner kicks and free kicks to stop the trend that is happening each week in Premier League matches.
“Marc Cucurella was given a yellow card for fouling Micky Van de Ven even though the ball was not in play.
“This could be even extended soon where a foul or penalty can be awarded if a foul takes place before the ball is in play. When both bodies meet next year, I am sure it will be high on the agenda.”
Does Liam Delap deserve a chance under Xabi Alonso?🤔
Perhaps he can work his magic on him!
Liam Delap's Chelsea stats against Tottenham
Photo by Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC via Getty Images
The corners situation is getting silly in the Premier League
The chaos surrounding corner routines in the Premier League has officially become silly, with referees completely losing control of the penalty box.
Grappling, blocking, and outright wrestling have been normalised to a ridiculous degree, yet officiating consistency remains non-existent. Chelsea fans know this frustration all too well; earlier this season against Arsenal, they were denied a blatant penalty when Declan Rice handled the ball while aggressively wrestling Jorrel Hato to the ground.
When blatant infringements are routinely ignored by VAR during set-pieces, it completely undermines the rules and leaves both players and supporters entirely baffled by what constitutes a foul.
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