Pro Ref chief Howard Webb has warned Premier League clubs that Pro Ref (formerly known as PGMOL) are clamping down hard on grappling from corners this season.
Webb and Chief Football Officer Rebecca Caplehorn visited all 20 top-flight clubs in recent weeks ahead of Friday's opener between champions Arsenal and Coventry City to explain the ruthless shift.
Players shown video clips of last season's incidents
Stars, who were invited to share their views, were shown multiple video clips of incidents from last season and warned they risk conceding penalties if they wrestle - or jostle without even watching the ball's flight.
Pro Ref are hoping to implement a "firmer view" on holding and are trying to regulate the use of excessive physicality from set-plays. Collectively, there is optimism this will improve the Premier League's general image.
Webb: Fans can expect more penalties throughout the season
Webb said: "I think fans can expect less warnings from referees [before fouls are given] than they might have seen previously, and I know [those warnings were] a source of frustration.
"Fans can expect to see more situations being penalised, but not only in August or September, throughout the season."
He does not want the overall flow of matches to be totally disrupted, however, adding: "I'm not going to commit to say we're going to go from here to penalising lots of contact. Contact's still part of the game.
"We still maintain a high threshold, but I would imagine we'll be sat here this time next year and we'll be able to reflect on a season where more offences have been penalised."
Data information packs and hair-pulling leniency
Officials will also be provided with data information packs before games - this practice has also applied in previous seasons - which will enable them to familiarise themselves with respective teams' set-piece routines. The idea is that referees will now have a better idea of exactly where to focus their attention.
Webb denies this will lead to pre-empting fouls and penalties because contact still needs to meet certain criteria; it's more a case of officials being better prepared to spot things.
Last season, the Key Match Incidents panel flagged 25 officiating errors. They are set to publish full analytical reviews in due course for transparency. Of those 25 blunders, 22 were missed interventions while the other three were cases where the VAR officials should not have got involved. Pro Ref have also implemented leniency regarding hair-pulling.
Last season, any tug of an opponent's hair, however big or small, resulted in a red card - as seen with Sunderland's Dom Ballard and Everton's Michael Keane, both on Wolves striker Tolu Arokodare. This time around, officials will get the chance to interpret the use of force before making their decision and they will be able to issue yellow cards.
