Dr Gloom

interesting stats on motd 2 last night. the italian and spanish leagues, which had this new handball rule in place last season, both saw about 50 penalties given because of handball offences over the season. The PL last season had like 8 or something.

That was a tough one because he was so close to the ball when it was struck - and I can see why some people argued it wasn’t - but I thought it was, yeah. He moved his hands towards the ball to deflect it as he watched it come on to him, which to me suggests intent. It was about interpretation, which meant some people will always disagree with the decision that the referee/VAR came to. But there will be more moaning as teams are increasingly robbed of a result the way spurs were today. I can see the funny side today but I’d be seething if we were denied two points in similar circumstances

I’m enjoying the schadenfreude. Can’t stand spurs or mourinho. But this new handball rule is a turd for all to see.

No way was that deliberate

Clearly not, otherwise it wouldn’t have been given. But that’s exactly why the refs should be instructed to use VAR to interpret whether there was intent, or not. The handball rule should be about stopping cheating.

OK. No, I don’t think any clear advantage was gained from it. I don’t think he knew much about it either and it wasn’t deliberate. I’ll be seething when we inevitably have one like that go against us under these stupid new rules.

Who are you - Luke Edwards? according to the new rules, it was hand ball. according to the old rules, it wasn’t. the new rules aren’t fit for purpose, which is why so many people are moaning

Do you think he meant to handball that today?

It’s not a court of law it’s interpretation of the law. If the player is looking at the ball and moves his hand towards it - that’s usually suggests it might be deliberate. I’d rather go back to the referee’s interpretation, which may or may not please everyone every time there is a decision than have this weird lottery every time the ball goes into the box.

I think there has to be intent. Penalising hand balls is supposed to stop cheating so there should be some interpretation of the law. The new rules are supposed to make things clearer but it just means it’s a lottery every time the ball goes into the box. If a player is looking the other way, how can he deliberately have handled the ball? I understand why so many people are complaining. It’s nonsense.

What a farcical decision

Look much better this half. Begs the question why we didn’t start the game playing higher up the pitch

Poor kid, I think I’m going to put him off football for life

I’m torturing my little lad making him watch this with me like.

Wonder if Luke Edwards is watching