Top official proposes major set-piece rule change following Arsenal dominance

LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 22: Gabriel of Arsenal heads the ball at a corner during the Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on February 22, 2026 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Jacques Feeney/Offside/Offside via Getty Images) — Darren Cann has suggested a big rule change for corners (Image credit: Getty Images)

Former Premier League assistant referee Darren Cann has called for a dramatic rule change at set-pieces that would likely have had a huge impact on this season's Premier League title race.

Arsenal look set to finish top of the league this season for the first time in 22 years, but Cann's suggested rule change would affect one of their main methods of scoring.

Darren Cann wants to remove certain players from the six yard box

However, Cann has suggested that it is time for a "law change" that would affect the way teams set up for corners.

Speaking on BBC Match of the Day, the former assistant referee called for attacking players to not be allowed in the six-yard box at corner kicks, until the ball is in play.

Assistant referee Darren Cann smiling and waving on a football pitch before a match. — Darren Cann believes his suggestion would make life easier for referees (Image credit: Getty Images)

He made the suggestion after Callum Wilson's late disallowed goal against Arsenal at the weekend, with West Ham United's Pablo adjudged to have fouled goalkeeper David Raya as the ball was crossed in.

Cann believes that this rule change would remove similar situations in the future and make it easier for referees to spot fouls and infringements.

He said: "The time has come now for a law change, whereby no attackers are allowed in the six-yard box before a corner is taken.

"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.

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

LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 22: Declan Rice of Arsenal takes a corner during the Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on February 22, 2026 in London, England. (Photo by Marc Atkins/Getty Images) — Players would not be able to enter the six-yard box before the corner is taken (Image credit: Getty Images)

Had Wilson's goal been allowed to stand at the weekend, it would have cut Arsenal's lead at the top and allowed Manchester City to draw level on points with them on Wednesday with a win against Crystal Palace.

However, the decision to disallow it has put the Gunners firmly in the driving seat in this season's title race, with just two games remaining.

The decision also affected West Ham in their push to catch Tottenham Hotspur and escape relegation, with just two points separating the London clubs at the bottom of the league.

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Ryan Gray is a freelance writer, covering mainly travel and occasionally sport. He previously spent two years as Sports Editor at the Watford Observer before turning his hand to travel writing, with his work appearing in various national UK publications. He has gone from providing matchday commentary for Blyth Spartans to covering FA Cup and Euros finals, as well as interviewing the likes of Claudio Ranieri, Alan Shearer and Glenn Hoddle, among other big names.