Former Premier League referee calls for major law change after West Ham-Arsenal controversy | OneFootball

Former Premier League referee Darren Cann has proposed banning attacking players from standing in the six-yard box before corners to counter the rise of “grappling” and “wrestling” following West Ham’s disallowed goal against Arsenal in the “biggest moment in VAR history”.

West Ham saw would what have been a crucial equaliser for both ends of the table disallowed following a foul from the attacker Pablo on Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya, with referee Chris Kavanagh making the decision to rule it out after a lengthy on-field review.

The referee Chris Kavanagh ruled that David Raya was fouled during the melee in the box (PA Wire)

Set-pieces have become increasingly physical this season, with many attacking teams focusing on crowding the opposition goalkeeper and directing an inswinging corner towards the six-yard box. As defenders attempt to protect the goalkeeper, farcical pile-ups have become a theme of the season - and it played a crucial part in one of the biggest games of the year.

“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,” Cann, a former assistant referee who officiated in a World Cup final, said on Match of the Day.

”So a goal kick, forwards are not allowed in the penalty area. Corners, they shouldn't be allowed in the six yard box until the ball is in play. That would create natural separation and give the goalkeeper the space, so we wouldn't have these endless debates.

“Lots of teams grapple at corners, sometimes before the ball has come into play. The referee can't give a penalty, or can't give an indirect free kick if the ball is not in play. This would create that natural separation and eradicate these kind of situations.”

Cann said he thought referee Kavanagh and the VAR Darren England made the correct decision to disallow the goal for a foul on Raya. "I don't think anyone would want to trade places with Darren England. Nobody would want to be sitting in that chair. He stepped up to the plate, he made the right decision and it's the biggest VAR call in Premier League history,” Cann added.

Afterwards Mikel Arteta congratulated the “brave” match officials for overturning an “obvious error” in Arsenal’s win, which edges them closer to a first Premier League title in 22 years.

West Ham were furious with the decision, but for Arsenal it takes them five points clear of City, and leaves them only two matches away from the title.

And Arteta said: “It was a call from the ref that is very brave, but very consistent with what they’ve been talking about all season.

“When I have to be critical, I have been. And today I have to praise them, at least for giving the option to a referee to decide, away from the lights and the chaos, to give clarity to him to make the right call. And when you look at the action in that way, it is an obvious error.

“It is a free-kick, and the goal has to be disallowed. So congratulations, because they made a big call in very, very difficult circumstances.

“Today I have realised how difficult and how big the referee’s job is. Because you’re talking about a moment that can decide the history, and the course, of two massive clubs that are fighting with their lives to achieve their objectives. And the pressure is huge.”