Handball rule here for the season AT LEAST

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Bruce angry with handball rule

The game’s outrageous handball law which has been a blight on the game since it was introduced cannot be changed until next season AT THE EARLIEST!

It has brought a storm of protest from fans and managers.  Experienced managers Steve Bruce and Roy Hodgson both called the change in the implementation of the law – which removes intent from any decision – “a nonsense” with Newcastle benefiting from a 97th-minute penalty against Tottenham while Crystal Palace were punished against Everton on Saturday.

The change was introduced after Fifa demanded that English football fall in line with leagues around the world, who have been following these laws since the 2018 World Cup in Russia.

Changes have seen the number of penalties awarded for handball in Europe’s other top four leagues almost double over the past two seasons since the introduction of the new laws.

Former referee David Elleray is the Premier League’s representative within IFAB, meaning managers and clubs would have to make their case via the 66-year-old.

Newcastle boss Bruce says football has “lost the plot” with the change whilst Hodgson declar4d that he is losing his interest in football as a result.

Bruce said: “The handball has been around for a hundred years,” he said. “If it is deliberate, no problem, but it has to be clear and obvious. We have lost the plot with it and it loses the spectacle of it.

Should Premier League clubs decide to campaign for a change to the law, any decision by IFAB would be made when they next meet for an annual meeting in March 2021. Should a formal change be made, it would not come into effect until June 1 next year.
Claretandhugh says: Fifa is perhaps the biggest pain in football’s backside. Too many crazy decisions and sniffs of other issues have been coming out of the organisation for too long. This particular rule which insists that pens will be handed out whether a player deliberately handles or not is one of the worst ever. It was brought in to end all arguments on that issue claiming that it was fair to all. It’s not and it’s wrong and there should be regulations in place to replace bad decisions quickly should they clearly affect the game badly. There is no doubt this one has done exactly that. When guys, as experienced as Bruce and Hodgson, decide to speak out so explicitly, those who only have administrative abilities in football should listen. There are surely no fans who would argue this is a great rule. it needs rescinding forthwith. There can be no questions about that.
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