West Ham manager Nuno Espirito Santo has called for urgent clarity on what constitutes a foul during set-pieces, describing current levels of grappling and blocking as "almost crazy." Speaking before his side's FA Cup match against Brentford, Nuno revealed he had raised concerns with Howard Webb, head of the Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL).

Nuno argued that refereeing officials should visit clubs to explain the boundaries of acceptable contact, saying "what's happening in the set-piece situation is, I'll say, almost crazy." He noted that many actions during corners and free-kicks involve holding, grabbing, and blocking that go "much further than what is allowed in football."

His comments follow similar criticisms from other Premier League managers. Liverpool's Arne Slot recently said the growing emphasis on set-pieces has made matches less enjoyable to watch, while Everton's David Moyes described Arsenal as trailblazers in using "dark arts" at corners. The debate centers on whether current interpretations of the rules are allowing physical contact that undermines the flow of the game.