Pieters: Premier League football in danger of becoming non-contact sport

If the Premier League’s referees association had a complaints hotline, Stoke City would be front of the queue.

Following the league’s clampdown on jostling in the penalty area, the Potters have conceded two penalties already this term against Manchester City and in last weekend’s 1-0 loss to Everton.

Both incidents have looked fairly innocuous compared to the penalty-area wrestling that has been commonplace in the Premier League in recent years, with Ryan Shawcross and Phil Bardsley the men penalised.

Pundits and current players alike have warned that there could be a farcical number of penalties awarded this term, and Stoke left-back Erik Pieters believes defending set pieces is now an almost impossible task.

“I think in five years it’s going to be indoor football like basketball where you won’t be able to touch anyone,” he said.

“It’s getting more and more difficult to defend at set pieces or corners. Every player who falls or gets tripped or pretends to get tripped, there will always be a doubt now. The referee might give them a free-kick or a penalty.

“You’re not allowed to touch your opponent at all now. The way it’s going it won’t be long until you won’t be allowed to speak to them either.

“It’s a tough result to take, especially when you see how, but we can do nothing about it. It’s happened twice to us but we also got a penalty for nothing [against Manchester City].

“It’s harsh because you are playing ok, but five minutes into the second half it gets taken away from you by a penalty like that.”