CHERRIES defender Steve Cook has called for a review into new refereeing directives after Charlie Daniels was controversially penalised at Crystal Palace.

Officials were ordered to clamp down on shirt-pulling and blocking in the penalty area ahead of this season with Daniels falling foul in Saturday's 1-1 draw at Selhurst Park.

Daniels briefly pulled at the shirt of Christian Benteke and although the movement of Palace's record-signing appeared barely affected – if at all – whistler Mike Dean pointed to the spot.

Polish international Artur Boruc then superbly saved Yohan Cabaye's penalty, although Scott Dann's equaliser in second-half injury-time eventually cancelled out Joshua King's early strike.

Under the laws of the game published by the International Football Association Board, holding an opponent – regardless of impediment to their movement – should be penalised.

However, the Football Association went further in a directive presented to players and managers prior to the current season, stating: "Where holding is sustained and clearly prevents an opponent from making a movement it is likely to be penalised."

Centre-half Cook felt Daniels's indiscretion had not been worthy of punishment and said the application of the law in Premier League games should be looked at.

He told the Daily Echo: "The penalty was very soft. It was justice with Artur saving it but it could have been very different.

"This is a contact sport. As a defender you have to be able to use your arms when you are marking players who are 6ft 5in or 6ft 6in.

"It's going to be very hard for everyone in this league to defend if that was a penalty.

"It's not a criticism of referees because they have been told to give fouls for anything like that but I think maybe it should be reviewed.

"It's a fine line and a very touchy subject at the moment. You've got to be able to use your arms – it's a fact."

Cook, who excelled alongside Simon Francis against Palace, predicts attacking players will possess a big advantage this season given the recent directives.

He said: "We're going to have to come up with a new way of defending – I don't know how.

"As footballers you are taught to use your arms and to be strong. If you can't do that then it's going to be raining goals in the box because there will be no way to defend it."

Former Brighton man Cook insisted a second Cherries goal would have ended Palace's chances of taking a point or more from the Premier League clash.

Callum Wilson had the visitors' best chance to double the lead but was denied by keeper Steve Mandanda when one-on-one.

Cook added: "I felt if we had got the second goal, the game would have been done. The crowd had turned on them. They were booed off at half-time.

"We didn't quite put them to the sword in the second half. We didn't look after the ball.

"We ended up conceding because we had been under pressure for 48 minutes, which was really tough to take because I felt we deserved the win after that defensive performance."