"Football is becoming like rugby": Ex-referee calls for rule change after recent EPL incident

Football rules have long been a point of contention in the sport, and experts occasionally call for changes based on recent examples.

Details: Former referee and ex-PGMOL head Keith Hackett highlighted the physicality in the penalty area during set-pieces in the match between West Ham and Leicester. He believes that referees need to pay closer attention to this "battle," as it is turning football into rugby.

Quote: "I believe PGMOL needs to focus on getting control of corner and free kicks. The penalty area looks more like rugby than football. Grabs, holds, and blocks go unpunished. It’s a waste of time when the referee delays the play before a free kick, steps into the area, gestures to players to move, and then blows the whistle, only for chaos to ensue, completely ignored by the officials.

We want to watch football, not rugby in these situations. I would suggest considering rule changes. Just like with free kicks, where defenders must stand one meter apart in the wall, why not apply the same to corners? Something needs to be done," Hackett told West Ham Zone.

Reminder: Earlier, former referee Jeff Winter criticized the VAR system for its inconsistency in decision-making.