FIFA consider giving World Cup referees extra powers to deal with penalty box grappling

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Referees could be given extra powers at the World Cup to clamp down on penalty box grappling. And FIFA chiefs are even discussing ways of how fouls can be given BEFORE corners are actually taken.

They are determined that World Cup matches do not end up in ugly penalty box wrestling at corners and free kicks which have marred the Premier League this season, with FIFA looking at ways of clamping down on blocking, grappling and clear fouls at set-pieces.

Despite the tournament being only a month away, it is still on the agenda and finer details are still being discussed but may come down to new directives and refs being encouraged to be extra vigilant and strict. The new directives have also been discussed with managers ahead of the World Cup.

They will be on the look-out for blocking at corners and it is understood that one clear example was from England’s game with Uruguay in March. Ben White scored at Wembley but there were accusations that Adam Wharton blocked José María Giménez in the build-up.

Emma Hayes, the USA women’s boss, was an ITV pundit that night and said: “I think nine times out of ten blocking off someone like that is a foul and I’m surprised it wasn’t given.”

FIFA are set to look at such decisions and incidents and try to clamp down so we do not get a repeat of the VAR controversies which surrounded West Ham ’s late goal which was ruled out against Arsenal on Sunday.

It is hard to know how refs could step in on pushing and pulling before the whistle blows or the ball is in play. But that is definitely under discussion.

It could be a tournament-specific directive which match officials will be ordered to implement when they arrive at their Miami World Cup base early next month.

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Premier League duo of Michael Oliver and Anthony Taylor, as well as their assistants, will be told that the spate of ugly skirmishes requires strong and decisive preventative action.

If it is introduced - despite the Laws of the game stating non-violent offences can only be punished when the ball in play - it would mean free-kicks, penalties and yellow and red cards could be awarded.

The development comes just 24 hours after the head of Fifa’s World Cup Technical Study Group warned he expected referees to take a stronger stand. Former Switzerland goalkeeper Pascal Zuberbuhler said: “We have seen this, especially in the Premier League with Arsenal.

“This is a trend, yes, of course, but I'm sure for our World Cup, we have the best referees there and those referees will be a key part of these situations.

“We know it’s difficult for the referees because you have these little fouls on the goalkeeper and the officials have to look between so many people around them.

“It’s not easy to see this, but I'm very, very sure we have the best referees anyway, and we will deal with this in a very good way. It's clear we need to be aware from the beginning.”

Zuberbuhler was clearly anticipating the new planned hardline approach being worked on at Fifa’s Zurich headquarters ahead of the tournament.

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