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MANCHESTER, England -- WWE-style grappling at corner kicks, manhandling of match officials, verbal abuse: Sometimes the beautiful game can take on an ugly side. Jordan Clarkson Jersey .This season, at least in these early weeks, English Premier League referees are taking a stand.The start of the new English football season has been marked with no-nonsense -- some might say over-zealous -- officiating that has got fearful defenders re-evaluating their trade and penalty-taking strikers licking their lips at the opportunities coming their way.One referee awarded two penalties in the same game for pushing and holding in the penalty area at a corner kick. Another has yellow-carded a player for sarcastically applauding a decision. Diego Costa, Chelseas typically irate striker, has already been booked for aggressively approaching a referee. After two rounds of fixtures, seven penalties have been awarded already, compared to three at the same stage last season.Its not uncommon for referees to put down markers early in the season or at the start of a major international tournament. Before too long, they have eased off.It remains to be seen if that will be the case this season.Its fine as long as its consistent right from now to the end of the season, Stoke manager Mark Hughes said. Usually it isnt.Stoke has been one of the teams to suffer from the vigorous officiating. The team fell behind to Manchester City on Saturday when defender Ryan Shawcross was adjudged to have pulled back an opponent at a corner and conceded a penalty, converted by Sergio Aguero. In the second half, City conceded a penalty after Raheem Sterling impeded Shawcross at a corner when he wasnt even looking at the ball.After the game, both managers accepted there was a clear move by referees to act on grappling and shirt-pulling. And their players are starting to take note.The penalty was given for using my hands, said Shawcross, a physical and uncompromising center back. Its something Im going to have to look at and hopefully adapt in the right way, so I dont give any more penalties away.City defender John Stones also said he and his teammates would have to adjust to the new directive. Yet, there were also protests that things were being taken too far.If theyre penalties, then youre going to be giving two or three a game and its going to be a farce, Stoke striker Peter Crouch said.We were told they were going to give more penalties this year so we cant say we werent given a warning. Even so, when you see it in the cold light of day its hard to take.Yet, grappling at corners wasnt one of the issues the Premier League was openly targeting heading into the new season. The most popular league in the world was more concerned with the damage that abuse of match officials was doing to its image.To that end, the leagues top brass called for tougher action on dissent, insulting language and gestures, physical contact toward officials, surrounding officials and misconduct in the managers technical areas.People look to us to set the example across the world, Richard Scudamore, chairman of the Premier League, said during the offseason.Thats exactly what is happening.Bournemouth midfielder Harry Arter collected the first of his two yellow cards against West Ham on Sunday for dissent toward an assistant referee, and was later criticized by his manager.Weve been told about dissent -- its been drilled into us, Bournemouth manager Eddie Howe said. If we lose our discipline, we could have a flurry of red cards.Premier League managers held offseason briefings with referees and soccer authorities over the desired improvements in player behavior.They explained everything again, Middlesbrough manager Aitor Karanka said Tuesday. We have to be careful, they are the rules.Some players dont appear to be getting the message, though.Costa had 23 yellow cards and one red card -- for angrily approaching a referee -- across his first two seasons at Chelsea. He has been booked in both his opening league games this year, too, the first for dissent toward a referee.Asked if he knew about the new dissent law, Costa told ESPN: I am aware of it now. Wesley Person Jersey . The No. 1-ranked Nadal tweaked his back warming up for the Australian Open final, which he lost almost four weeks ago in a major upset against Stanislas Wawrinka. His first stop after the layoff is the clay in Rio as he tests the back and tries to stay healthy for the French Open in three months. Dajuan Wagner Jersey .C. -- Al Jefferson joked that he feels he can score from anywhere on the court. https:///...ersey-cavaliers.html .Y. - Jerome Samson scored once in regulation and again in the shootout as the St. ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Sure, Kyle Kalis will admit it: The Michigan guard is keeping tabs on Ohio State.In fact, Kalis is rooting for the second-ranked Buckeyes to keep winning until the third-ranked Wolverines visit the Buckeyes next month.I want them to win all the way until we play them, Kalis said Monday. I know some of the guys were wishing them to lose, which its hard not to. A little part of me was hoping theyd lose, but Im glad they won. I want them to make `The Game as meaningful as possible.Jim Harbaugh said he watched Ohio State win at No. 8 Wisconsin in overtime, but wasnt very forthcoming.I was just watching it as a fan, Harbaugh said. Two good football teams.While the Buckeyes were beating the Badgers, the Wolverines were enjoying the weekend off without a game. Michigan (6-0, 3-0 Big Ten) hosts Illinois (2-4, 1-2) on Saturday.Harbaugh was working during his teams bye weekend and, of course, found a unique way to do it. At one game in California, he announced the schools homecoming queen.It was great to be part of the activity, Harbaugh said.At another game in California, Harbaugh held the down marker on the sideline because he said they needed a guy for the chain gang .I was promised a tri-tip sandwich at halftime, Harbaugh said. And that was all I needed to hear.Kalis, an Ohio native, who committed to Ohio State before choosing to attend Michigan, has been hearing from friends back home about the annual showdown game, one of the best rivalries in sports. The Wolverines have five more games before they play Nov. 26 at Ohio State, but that isnt stopping anyone from talking about the highly anticipated matchup.This is the time of year when you start getting texts saying, `The Game is coming near, Kalis said. Especially with where were ranked and where theyre ranked, its bound to happen. Vitaly Potapenko Jersey. When we get there, its going to be a crazy atmosphere as it always is, but this year is turning out to be one to remember I feel like.Kalis insisted he has always paid the same amount of attention to Ohio State leading up to their matchup.This year, were doing so good expectations are just kind of different, he said. We just have to keep doing our job like we are and good things will happen.Michigan is going into the second half of the regular season with its highest ranking in a decade.The Wolverines were No. 3 in 2006 after losing at No. 1 Ohio State as the second-ranked team in the country. Kalis said the Wolverines have been climbing in the poll because they prepare like no one else, and have treated each game as if a championship is at stake.We want to go higher, Kalis said. The goal is to go as high as we can. We just need to continue what were doing and itll pay off.Michigan has been tested only once this season and it passed, beating Wisconsin 14-7. The Wolverines have had only had one other relatively close game, a 45-28 win over Colorado. In every other matchup, they have routed their opponent with ease.Harbaugh said playing another team his team is expected to dominate with emotionally charged games coming up -- including next week against rival at Michigan State -- isnt a concern of his as he prepares the Wolverines to play the Fighting Illini.Were just going to work and not worry, he said.---Online:College Football: http://collegefootball.ap.org---Follow Larry Lage at http://www.twitter.com/larrylage and follow his work at http://bigstory.ap.org/content/larry-lage ' ' '