'Absolute disgrace': Outrage over new rule 'ruining' football
Liverpool great Jamie Carragher has slammed the new handball rule and even went as far to claim it was “ruining football for everybody” after a controversial decision in the Premier League overnight.
Carragher called for authorities to act after Newcastle were awarded a controversial late penalty in their 1-1 draw at Tottenham.
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Steve Bruce’s side were awarded the spot-kick deep into stoppage-time when replays showed Andy Carroll’s header hit Eric Dier’s arm as he was competing for the ball in the air.
Referee Peter Bankes did not initially give the decision but opted to point to the spot after being advised to watch the incident again on the VAR monitor.
Tottenham were enraged at the decision, with Dier not even looking at the ball when it struck his arm.
Newcastle striker Callum Wilson converted the penalty with what proved to be their only shot on target of the match to cancel out Lucas Moura’s opener and secure an unlikely point.
Carragher hit out at the new rule, which can penalise a player if the ball has touched the arm even if it is accidental.
The boundary between the shoulder and the arm is now defined by "the bottom of the armpit".
Carragher blasts new handball rule
The former Liverpool centre back absolutely blasted the new rule.
“It’s an absolute disgrace, an absolute joke,” he said while commentating for Sky Sports.
“Newcastle fans will be ecstatic, I can understand that. But everybody else in this country will be saying exactly what I’m saying and what I’m thinking.
"Eric Dier jumps for the ball and has no control where his arms are going. There’s a header half a yard away from him and it hits him on the back of the arm. He has no idea what’s going on.
"This is a joke. This is the Premier League. The FA, FIFA, [Pierluigi] Collina, whoever is involved in this just stop it because you are ruining football for everybody.”
The decision also caused a stir on social media with plenty of former players and celebrities hitting out at the interpretation.
Ludicrous. Utterly ludicrous law exacerbated by VAR. Can we have our game back please?
— Gary Lineker (@GaryLineker) September 27, 2020
The @premierleague has been such an amazing product for so many years and we have officially lost it now! I feel like the players, managers, clubs need to take a firm stance now to get our game back.
— Jermaine Jenas (@jjenas8) September 27, 2020
VAR is a far worse enemy to football than Covid-19.
— Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) September 27, 2020
This hand ball rule is a total joke. Newcastle called hand ball every time we were in our box. It's a new way of cheating intimidate the ref or deliberately head the ball at the defenders arm and hand. Disgrace https://t.co/vZCCxwJ3DE
— Lord Sugar (@Lord_Sugar) September 27, 2020
To FIFA. Can we have our game back !! Please 😎🙏.
— Glenn Hoddle (@GlennHoddle) September 27, 2020
with Stats Perform News
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