Ole Gunnar Solskjaer believes the Premier League could become like rugby with the current approach to fouls.
The Manchester United manager thinks the Premier League will start to resemble rugby rather than football when it comes to fouls if referees continue to show leniency on the pitch.
Officials in the Premier League have been encouraged to have a higher threshold for fouls this season in a bid to allow games to flow.
Solskjaer was annoyed because he felt Bruno Fernandes was fouled by Southampton defender Jack Stephens in the build-up to the home side’s opener in the first half.
The goal in question went down as a Fred own goal after the ball took a deflection off the Brazilian.
Mason Greenwood equalised after the break but United didn’t have enough in their tank to push for a match-winner and dropped two points as a result.
“It’s a foul, he (Stephens) goes straight through Bruno, with his arm and his hip across him. We can’t go from one extreme of volleyball or basketball last season to rugby now,” Solskjaer told a news conference, as per Sky Sports.
“I like the more lenient way, it’s more men’s football, but, still, that’s a foul.”
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I can’t say I agree with Solskjaer on this one.
Fernandes should have done more to put his body across the ball before Stephens came in to nick the ball away.
And, on top of that, we’re always complaining that the game has gone too soft.
It’s time to appreciate the fact football is a contact sport.
