Let’s compile this straight to start with, the calls now we have seen within the Premier League this weekend have all been appropriate. Crystal Palace, Tottenham and Brighton were all adjudged to have had gamers take care of within the penalty field.
It be the law itself which is divulge tosh.
Adjustments to the solutions have now intended that fairly great any handball where the arm is now not by the aspect is a unsuitable. For the 2020/21 season, the Premier League has sought to clarify the solutions to be that if a ball strikes an arm or hand when or now not it is in an unnatural space, then or now not it is towards the solutions. Even if it hits your leg and bounces up onto your arm – look Robin Koch at Anfield – or now not it is aloof a penalty.
Within the footballing stratosphere, now not one reveal has contrivance out in defence of the new solutions. No longer one. Ought to you look the determination that went towards Eric Dier deep into stoppage time on Sunday, there may be small wonder why.
Right here are the weekend’s handball penalty award choices, ranked from very most realistic to worst.
This one changed into as soon as conclusive. Brighton concept they’d snatched a level from their moderately ridiculous contrivance upon with Manchester United at the AMEX Stadium, greatest for drama to ensue after the paunchy-time whistle.
Neal Maupay can’t have any complaints, thoughts. He jumped main alongside with his arm in direction of Harry Maguire, who’d directed a header in direction of goal, foolishly elevating it excessive adequate that the pain deflected off his wrist. Very silly, very particular. Even if it changed into as soon as from very shut proximity.
Nonetheless so as to add to the insanity we’re seeing almost every match, the determination to overview the unsuitable and repeat the attach came after the referee blew to complete the sport. The solutions dispute that the referee can aloof beget choices after paunchy-time as prolonged as they have not left the field of play, so there are no qualms there (aloof bonkers, even supposing).
So, the handball rule is an absolute travesty and it will likely be enforced after paunchy-time. Welcome to the Premier League, mates.
Crystal Palace 1-2 Everton – Joel Ward
Over in south London, it changed into as soon as Palace’s flip to certainly feel the wrath of the solutions.
Lucas Digne received a mistaken on the brink of the field where opted to connect with a downward header. Truthful a couple of yards faraway from him changed into as soon as a crouched Joel Ward who, you would maintain, changed into as soon as stood in a in overall current ‘pure’ space.
Maintaining his balance alongside with his fingers either aspect, or now not it is now not fancy he changed into as soon as seeking to receive flight. They were out, however now not hugely so.
Yet Digne’s header changed into as soon as angled down and struck Ward’s left arm. No movement in direction of the ball, no blocking of a transparent goal. Nothing of the kind. Sticking to the solutions, even supposing, the referee consulted his pitchside video display and pointed to the attach.
By no system a penalty. ‘The game has gone infected’, as they’d explain. One ingredient you can not explain, however, is that the referees don’t look like consistent.
Tottenham were cruising at home to Newcastle on Sunday afternoon. They were greatest main 1-0, however may perhaps well well with out complications – and can simply with out complications – had been three or four targets up towards their bland opponents. The Magpies supplied nothing in any admire in an attacking sense, but they’ve left north London with a level.
How? Since the solutions are appalling.
Andy Carroll did his very most realistic to compile on to a deep free kick, something he managed to build when he headed the ball everywhere in the field shut to the 18-yard line. Dier, alongside with his aid facing Carroll as he would now not reach the ball, is then looking within the reverse direction when the striker heads it onto the aid of his arm from the length of a Pringles can.
It be so shut, and there may be nothing Dier can beget about it.
Alternatively, since his arm changed into as soon as in an ‘unnatural’ space – now not by his sides – the referee reviewed his video display and awarded the attach-kick. Callum Wilson scored. The basis that your arm is in an unnatural space if you occur to bounce is just pure folly, even supposing.
Who jumps with their fingers by their aspect? Actually nobody does that. If something else, it must be the varied system round. Sadly, as ludicrous as it changed into as soon as, we are able to place a query to heaps more of these to contrivance aid.