“KOEMAN WANTS GRAPPLING BAN” was a headline in a national newspaper.

The Southampton manager made his plea after the controversies in the Leicester–West Ham game and I’m sure everyone would agree with his sentiments.

But, of course, Ronald Koeman, like so many others, puts the blame on referees.

“If players know they are going to be punished, then all this grappling would stop. But if referees do not show consistency it really doesn’t make it clear for everybody.”

Before answering that point, let’s look at two other facts. First, it is players not referees who do the grappling.

Secondly, players already know that holding and pushing are direct free-kick offences, which if committed by a defender in the penalty area, would be a penalty.

So I think everybody is aware of the possible consequences.

Let’s look at why sometimes the grappling is punished and sometime it is not.
It is simply that the referee doesn’t always see it.

This is because the referee is concentrating on the ball and that narrows his vision.

This view is often derided and I would like all critics to watch a brilliant video, which has nothing to do with football.

It involves two teams with a basketball each in a relatively small space indoors. One team bounces the ball to each other, whilst the other passes their ball by throwing in. Those watching are asked to either count the number of bounces or the number of throws, I won’t tell you what happens but something extraordinary takes place that no one spots.

It proves quite simply that concentrating on one happening, you can easily miss other events going on around you.

Does everyone agree that grappling should be punished? Pundits like Alan Shearer seem to suggest that if you don’t see all of them you shouldn’t punish any.

And what about managers, could they do more to prevent it, or do they only want it punished when it’s done by opponents?