26 Sep 2020 22:29:25
So I think we can all agree the handball rule is a bit crazy to say the least.

To make it easier could the ball to hand decisions be indirect free kicks instead? Penalties seem very harsh and whilst indirect free kicks are still goal scoring opportunities they can be closer to 50/ 50 rather then pens which 'should result in a goal.

The same for instances where goals are ruled out for accidently hitting an attackers arm in the build up, the attacking team don't completely lose out and defending teams still have an opportunity to keep it out.

There would still be subjective decisions but at least they wouldn't be penalised as much as they are now.

Bonus idea, maybe it could be like hockey with a penalty corner instead?

1.) 27 Sep 2020
27 Sep 2020 00:32:04
I can't get my head around how a defensive action that hits a players arm is 100% a penalty but an attacking action hits the the arm of a player it depends on how close to the goal scoring opportunity it is, its a right mess.

2.) 27 Sep 2020
27 Sep 2020 02:43:54
yeah I been saying this for years. They could use indirect free kicks for the ones that look incidental. thing is tho, it would just change the narrative into a different issue. we'd be talking about the inconsistency of when pens are awarded vs indirect free kicks.

3.) 27 Sep 2020
27 Sep 2020 08:18:05
There would be a fine line, but the majority of handballs are not deliberate. A few deliberate ones I could think of are Suarez in the World Cup and one of the Arsenal lads doing their best goal keeper impression. Both blatant and deserve to be a pen/ red card.

But the ones where a player is going in for a tackle and it hits his arm are accidental; personally I don’t think warrants the awarding of a pen as punishment.

With an indirect free kick at least it’s slightly fairer for both sides rather then a pen and in the majority of cases a goal.

Ed001, have they removed the attacking handball rule? I didn't see anything mentioned about it before the season but the commentary on MOTD implied it’d been changed.

{Ed001's Note - it has simply been changed to the same rule for attackers and defenders.}

4.) 27 Sep 2020
27 Sep 2020 09:45:28
Its going to happen more and more that attackers will just start aiming for defenders hands, really don't like the penalty being given at the moment. Makes me happy we keep such a high line because the only way to avoid these ridiculous decisions is to not let the ball come in your box at all.

5.) 27 Sep 2020
27 Sep 2020 11:56:13
Just a few games into the season and VAR and referee decisions have took centre stage again - is it a penalty or not, swear no consistency again. The handball rule was simply was it not once, hand to ball or ball to hand? Ppl honestly want to just enjoy a footie match.

6.) 27 Sep 2020
27 Sep 2020 17:38:52
It's all come about because of the stupid rule about it hitting attackers arms during attacks. Rather than admit it was a stupid idea they keep digging a hole by making it evdn more stupid and saying whdn ever it hits a defender in the box (on the arm) it's a penalty too.