Premier League clubs still confused by controversial new handball rule

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Premier League clubs still confused by controversial new handball rule… with managers and players still unsure what will and won’t be given this weekend

  •  The refereeing body attempted to clarify their new relaxed handball rules
  • However, players and managers in the top-flight are still confused about laws 
  • The new handball rule has led to plenty of controversy so far in Premier League 

By Kieran Gill for the Daily Mail

Published: | Updated:

Premier League managers and players remain confused about what will and won’t be given as a handball this weekend, despite the refereeing body’s attempts to clarify their new relaxed rules.

The Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) sent examples to clubs this week following back-to-back weekends of controversial penalties. They explained how, under new guidelines, the spot-kick awarded against Crystal Palace‘s Joel Ward would now not be given.

However, the PGMOL added the handball by Eric Dier would still be penalised – because the Tottenham player’s arm was clearly raised above the shoulder, even if his back was turned.

The last-gasp penalty conceded for handball against Eric Dier was a hotly disputed decision

The last-gasp penalty conceded for handball against Eric Dier was a hotly disputed decision

Likewise the handball by Brighton’s Neal Maupay which led to Manchester United’s late winner would still be penalised due to the unnatural position of his arm blocking Harry Maguire’s header.

That is due to the game’s law-makers International Football Association Board (IFAB) deeming ‘above the shoulder’ as an automatic offence with no room for interpretation or mitigation.

This was explained to clubs this week, while an article entitled ‘Handballs – a new interpretation’, written by former referee Chris Foy, has also been made available on the players’ app.

Neal Maupay was another victim of new laws as he conceded a stoppage-time penalty

Neal Maupay was another victim of new laws as he conceded a stoppage-time penalty

But Sportsmail knows of individuals who remain unsure of the rules ahead of this weekend’s action, with defenders being advised to block shots with arms behind backs just in case.

Tottenham’s Matt Doherty was harshly penalised for handball in their Europa League victory over Maccabi Haifa on Thursday.

Whereas this might have led to a penalty in the Premier League last weekend, play would now continue if it happened on Saturday.

That is due to the PGMOL telling their referees to take the player’s ‘ability to react’ into account, as well as assessing the ‘position of the arm’ in real time.      

WHAT WOULD AND WOULDN’T BE GIVEN AS A PEN, AS PER THE PGMOL’S NEW APPROACH…

 – Robin Koch, Liverpool v Leeds: HANDBALL, because his arm was clearly away from the body, it prevented a shot at goal and the deflection was not enough in mitigation.

– Victor Lindelof, Manchester United v Crystal Palace: NO HANDBALL, because he had limited time to react and his arm was in its expected position.

– Joel Ward, Crystal Palace v Everton: NO HANDBALL, because he had limited time to react and his arm was in its expected position.

– Matt Doherty, Southampton v Tottenham: NO HANDBALL, because he had limited time to react and the deflection significant changed the path of the ball.

– Neal Maupay, Brighton v Manchester United: HANDBALL, because his arm was clearly raised above the shoulder.

– Eric Dier, Tottenham v Newcastle: HANDBALL, because his arm was clearly raised above the shoulder. 

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