Top Premier League defender James Collins has branded the clampdown on penalty-box wrestling as ‘mad’, as one furious manager admitted he may be forced to change his tactics.
Referees have been ordered to punish pushing and shoving at corners and free-kicks, awarding penalties if necessary, and West Ham centre back Collins fears it is a recipe for chaos.
‘It’s hard for the referee to see every challenge in the box and some will be given and some won’t be,’ he said. ‘It’s mad.’
Referee Mike Dean awarded two controversial spot kicks as Manchester City beat Stoke 4-1 last weekend.