Manchester City's Manchester United counterpart, Arsenal, saw both experienced referee Craig Pawson and relatively new referee Farai Hallam make key decisions on handball incidents during the weekend.
It is indeed one of the most debated topics in football, with recent rule changes by the International Football Association Board (IFAB) aiming to achieve consistent outcomes for the betterment of the game.
A notable example from this past weekend was when Manchester United's Harry Maguire halted Mikel Merino's shot on goal. The incident sparked controversy, but referee Pawson correctly denied a penalty kick. In accordance with current laws of the game, Maguire merely made a natural challenge, and his outstretched arm only served to support himself.
Another example came in Crystal Palace's home match against Chelsea, where referee Darren England initially awarded a penalty after Jaydee Canvot inadvertently stopped João Pedro's shot with his arm. However, the VAR intervened and recommended a review, ultimately allowing the goal to stand.
It is this kind of nuanced approach that is becoming increasingly evident among Premier League referees. Hallam's recent display against Manchester City showcased his maturity in handling handball incidents. His decision not to intervene was backed up by VAR, which also agrees with him in this instance.
The high threshold approach adopted by the PGMO development group appears to be paying off. There have been a limited number of decisions so far this season where penalties were awarded for accidental handballs. Overall, there's an increasing acceptance within English football regarding the agreed interpretation of this law.
However, not everyone shares Foy's preference for clear-cut decisions on handball incidents. As he pointed out in the article, there is often debate and discussion surrounding this topic. Ultimately, one can only hope that players will continue to demonstrate awareness of their surroundings and avoid unnecessary appeals.
Foy himself was a Premier League referee for 25 years and still maintains his stance: "I want a handball to be clear." This sentiment echoes the desire for clarity in football's most contentious decisions.
It is indeed one of the most debated topics in football, with recent rule changes by the International Football Association Board (IFAB) aiming to achieve consistent outcomes for the betterment of the game.
A notable example from this past weekend was when Manchester United's Harry Maguire halted Mikel Merino's shot on goal. The incident sparked controversy, but referee Pawson correctly denied a penalty kick. In accordance with current laws of the game, Maguire merely made a natural challenge, and his outstretched arm only served to support himself.
Another example came in Crystal Palace's home match against Chelsea, where referee Darren England initially awarded a penalty after Jaydee Canvot inadvertently stopped João Pedro's shot with his arm. However, the VAR intervened and recommended a review, ultimately allowing the goal to stand.
It is this kind of nuanced approach that is becoming increasingly evident among Premier League referees. Hallam's recent display against Manchester City showcased his maturity in handling handball incidents. His decision not to intervene was backed up by VAR, which also agrees with him in this instance.
The high threshold approach adopted by the PGMO development group appears to be paying off. There have been a limited number of decisions so far this season where penalties were awarded for accidental handballs. Overall, there's an increasing acceptance within English football regarding the agreed interpretation of this law.
However, not everyone shares Foy's preference for clear-cut decisions on handball incidents. As he pointed out in the article, there is often debate and discussion surrounding this topic. Ultimately, one can only hope that players will continue to demonstrate awareness of their surroundings and avoid unnecessary appeals.
Foy himself was a Premier League referee for 25 years and still maintains his stance: "I want a handball to be clear." This sentiment echoes the desire for clarity in football's most contentious decisions.
. The VAR reviews are helping referees make more informed decisions and it's not as chaotic as it was before 
. Personally, I think Maguire's challenge against Mikel Merino was just a natural reaction to the ball coming at him - no need for a penalty 
️. It's great to see refs like Farai Hallam showing maturity in handling these situations 
. Can't say I agree with Foy on clear-cut decisions though, sometimes it feels like the ref is just guessing 
. anywayz ref Hallams call on that manc city game was spot on 
... do we want to create more controversy or clarity? 
on one hand, consistency is key, but on the other, the game needs room for nuance and interpretation 
... i guess what i'm trying to say is, there's no right answer here, just different perspectives 
... and that's what makes it so fascinating 
...
I'm still not sold on this new rule change 
, but what about them weird cases where you're like 'wait, did he touch the ball?' 
? It's just not that clear-cut, ya know? 
Like with that Manchester United game against Arsenal, Harry Maguire was literally just trying to stop himself from getting hurt, and now we're talking penalty kick 
. What's next, calling a foul on someone who trips over their own feet? 
The VAR system is helping a lot in this regard, I mean, who needs to watch the replay 10 times to make sure?