Sport
Handball rule change causes almighty roar
After three weeks of the new Premier League season, we should be waxing lyrical about the ludicrous scorelines that we’ve been treated to or the fact that there has only been a single draw in the first 28 matches of the campaign. We are yet to witness a goalless game and, if the other 352 fixtures play out like this, what a season it will be. Unfortunately, instead of talking about the wealth of goals of individual heroics from players, we have been stuck discussing the furore regarding the latest handball rule change.
In a week where not one, not two but three highly contentious decisions were up for debate, it seems as if pandora’s box has well and truly been opened. It is infringements in the box that have been the biggest talking point and, with Eric Dier, Joel Ward and Neal Maupay being penalised in highly controversial and costly fashion, all manner of argument has followed.
With Tottenham, Crystal Palace and Brighton all being denied some form of positive outcome from these decisions, you can understand that fans of the three clubs will have taken a huge amount of dissatisfaction with the FA’s interpretation of the handball rule change.
A decision goes against you, you complain on social media and opposition fans who have benefitted, revel in glory on the same platforms. That is usually how things pan out when referee controversy is involved. However, even those who have recently benefitted, cannot get on board with the handball law in its current manifestation.
You only need to look at Steve Bruce’s comments after Newcastle’s draw against Tottenham to see how the application of the current handball law is almost universally loathed, with the former Manchester United player labelling the decision “nonsense”.
Of course, with Roy Hodgson making a similar statement a day earlier, his stance is understandable and warranted as Crystal Palace were on the wrong side of the decision. However, when a beneficiary is also bemoaning such an outcome, you know things are badly wrong.
Although these decisions cannot be overturned or the law itself cannot be changed until next season at the earliest, the Premier League have at least been noble enough to not stick their heads in the sand and from this weekend, they have permitted a softening in their stance.
It is down to the FA to interpret the handball rule change and they are now suggesting that referees will be required to use greater discretion and, although anything that hits a hand above the head in the box would still be a penalty, a deflection off a hand by a player’s side could be viewed differently.
Which means outcomes such as the penalties we saw awarded against both Victor Lindelof and Matt Doherty in week two of the season would, thankfully, be a thing of the past.
Eric Dier may still have to possess eyes in the back of his head as his penalty award would still stand, even with the new stance. One does wonder how you are meant to defend an aerial bombardment from the likes of Newcastle.
Ultimately the new stance from the Premier League has been enforced from above and with IFAB making this iteneration of the handball rule in football universal across the game, the propensity for penalties has increased dramatically.
On paper more penalties and, as a by-product more goals, should be considered a good thing for spectators. However, the prospect of a 5-3 thriller each weekend, does run the risk of undervaluing the very currency on which football matches are traded on.
One of the beautiful things about football, is that it is low scoring and, because of that, there is an extraordinary amount of tension related to a goal. If they become too frequent, supporters run the risk of being desensitised to its most pleasurable act.
Are the Premier League now looking for organic enhancements for its drama? The answer is closer to yes, than no and this is where supporters will wonder whether it is worth all the hassle.
In a time when the Premier League’s ‘product’ is at its most difficult to sell – if only because of a pandemic situation that is out of their control, the last thing they need are fans switching off in their droves for other reasons.
This is why this softening of their previous stance has come into existence and, although it is too late for the likes of Dier, Ward and Maupay, common sense may hopefully be applied over the remaining seven months of the season. The handball rule change 2020 has been a disaster so far and you suspect that the controversy won’t end anytime soon.
You could earn up to £100 (or currency equivalent) in bonus funds by joining Colossus with our New Player Bonus. Click here to join the action.
