-
News
- 24 minutes ago
Arsenal VAR controversy: Ex-PL official suggests revolutionary rule change
11 May 2026 05:17 CDT |
5 min read
News
Former Premier League assistant referee Darren Cann believes the time has come for attackers to be banned from entering the opposition six-yard box during corner-kicks.
The subject of pushing, pulling and grappling during corners has been in the Premier League headlines all season, particularly surrounding Arsenal games as there have been various incidents of goals either given or disallowed by VAR in games involving the Gunners.
It happened on Sunday as Arsenal were given a helping hand in the title race in their game against West Ham. Mikel Arteta's men were leading 1-0 heading into the dying minutes when a set-piece melee saw the ball drop to Callum Wilson, who fired the ball over the line despite the attempted heroic block of Declan Rice.
The London Stadium erupted in cheers but the West Ham fans were brought back down to Earth when VAR deemed that David Raya had been impeded by forward Pablo, who had his arm across the chest of the Arsenal stopper.
The drama will have an impact at both ends of the table as Arsenal maintained their five-point lead over Manchester City in the title race, while West Ham remain a point from safety inside the relegation zone. The team directly above them, Tottenham, have a game in hand which takes place on Monday against Leeds.
The West Ham players and fans were furious and due to the amount of incidents surrounding corner-kick wrestling, Cann thinks attackers should not be allowed inside the six-yars box until the corner has been taken.
"I feel that the time has come now for a law change whereby no attackers are allowed in the six-yard box before the corner is taken," he said on Match of the Day.
"So, at goal kicks, forwards are not allowed in the penalty area.
"At corners, they shouldn't be allowed in the six-yard box until the ball is in play. And lots of teams grapple at corners sometimes before the ball has come into play.
"And obviously, the referee can't give a penalty or can't give an indirect free kick if the ball is not in play. So this would create that natural separation and eradicate these kind of situations."
West Ham fume
West Ham captain Jarrod Bowen said the decision lacked consistency compared to some that were given throughout this season.
“Because we're on the receiving end of it we’re going to feel hard done by. Football is a sport that brings enjoyment, brings fans together and brings people big moments," he told Sky Sports post-match.
“We had our big moment then, we thought we'd got back into the game, [but you] look at something for five minutes, [you're] trying to find something. Goalkeepers are protected more than outfield players, there's lots of holding and grappling that goes on in the box.
“Are you going to look at those every single time and give a penalty? Because that's the only way that is the right way to do it.
“I get that you can't wipe a goalkeeper out and there's arms there but the keeper's come out to try and grab the ball so he's got to be seen - not as an outfield player - but he's got to expect contact. It's a corner kick, it's physical, it's the Premier League, there's going to be contact and tussles.
"If you look long enough, I'm sure you'll find something." 🗣️
Jarrod Bowen wasn't happy with VAR's decision to rule out West Ham's goal 😬 pic.twitter.com/H4LpVXJoaF— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) May 10, 2026
“We’re on the receiving end of it so we feel more hard done by but we had one at Brentford last week where Soucek got dragged down and we didn't get a penalty.
“I'm just saying as a consistency level - VAR is here to stay, we know that - but I just think the decisions... people are going to think I sound bitter but I'm just being honest. If you look at something for long enough you'll find something to give and I think that's what happened in the end.
"I can guarantee people, pundits, everyone that watches the game knows that football is a physical game and there's holding every single time. No one wants to see penalties given every single week or fouls against every single week.
“You want the game to be going on, that's why everyone loves football, because they love the fast-action, fast-paced, physical game.
“Goalkeepers are different because they do get a little bit of different treatment, but in the same breath I think there has got to be some understanding that when there’s a corner, these days people like to put the corner on top of the goalkeeper and create that confusion and fight in the six-yard box.
“I'm not coming here to sound bitter and blame different things. I'm just being honest about the situation we’ve been on the receiving end of.”
Speaking to BBC Sport, Bowen said: “Where's the consistency? As a fan you don't want to celebrate a goal and then wait eight minutes and it's taken off you.”
That debate surrounding corners intensified following Arsenal's 2-1 victory against Chelsea in March, in which all three goals were scored from corners.
William Saliba and Jurrien Timber scored for Arsenal, while Chelsea got on the scoresheet via an own-goal from Piero Hincapie.
For all three goals, players from both sides were guilty of grappling with their opponents.
Brighton boss Fabian Hurzeler previously said Premier League needs to look at the rules surrounding the time it takes to take a corner kick and the wrestling that goes on inside the box during a set-piece before his side took on Arsenal in March.
