Premier League Referees to Enforce Stricter Rules on Set-Piece Grappling and Simulation in 2025/26

Premier League referees will take a stricter approach to set-piece grappling and simulation in the upcoming 2025/26 season.

These officiating changes are part of a wider clampdown aimed at improving fairness and consistency across the league.

Premier League Referees Crack Down on Set-Piece Grappling

Match officials have been instructed to penalise incidents where players use both arms to hold an opponent, focus entirely on marking a player rather than contesting the ball, or where holding clearly restricts an attacker’s movement.

For fouls inside the penalty area, referees will award a spot-kick, with VAR checks confirming the decision or overturning it if there is a clear and obvious error.

The move follows feedback from Premier League clubs, who believe officiating had been too lenient on set-piece grappling in recent seasons. Players have already been briefed on the change.

Stricter Measures on Simulation

Officials have also been told to take a firmer stance on diving and exaggerating contact, particularly when a player goes down holding their head despite contact being to another part of the body.

This is part of a broader push to reduce simulation and improve the league’s reputation for sporting integrity.

VAR Interventions Remain Limited

While enforcement will be tighter on the pitch, the VAR protocol will still maintain a high threshold for overturning referee decisions.

Last season saw the average VAR delay drop to 39 seconds, down from 64 seconds in 2024/25.

An independent panel reviewing 2024/25 found:

• 103 correct VAR interventions

• 5 incorrect interventions

• 13 missed interventions

New Technology and Communication

The new season will see semi-automated offside technology used in the Premier League, with replays shown on TV and stadium big screens.

Referees will also announce VAR decisions over the stadium PA system — except for straightforward offside/onside calls.

Additional League Updates

• A minute’s silence will be held at all fixtures during the opening weekend to honour Liverpool forward Diogo Jota and his brother Andre Silva, who tragically died in a car accident last month.

• Weekly scheduling meetings between the Premier League and UEFA will take place to manage fixture congestion, with nine English clubs competing in Europe.

• Players will continue to take the knee at two match rounds in October in support of the No Room For Racism campaign, following agreement between club captains.