I’m probably getting downvoted for this but the criticism and controversy to referees is getting insane. There are more articles about refereeing than tactics, it’s ridiculous. Just to be clear, I’ve been an Arsenal for nearly 30 years now.
On the McAllister handball, the rule states that if there is an unintentional handball in the build up to a goal, the goal should stand. The refs think that the handball was deliberate, so they disallowed the goal. At the end of the day, as someone who writes legislation in certain fields, I can confirm that you cant foresee all particular situations in the rules. As for every rule system (laws, regulations, etc.), there is a need for humans to implement and apply the rules to the particular situations.
This means that mistakes will happen. This also means that subjectivity plays a part but there is a difference between subjective and arbitrary. Almost everything that humans do is subjective to some degree. Football is no exception. The rules are the same for everyone, they have to be applied to particular situations by a human (a judge or, in football, a referee). And in a situation where a human has to make a decision, another human might have taken another decision. It’s the nature of the application of rules and it has to be accepted.
Now in the justice system, you can appeal and go to a higher court, then to a higher court, until the highest court which is usually, in Europe, the European Human Rights Court (or however it’s called in English). There could be a discussion to be had about an appeal system in football, but I dont really see how you can implement that without having to replay games or have huge refereeing pauses within games, which would just kill the game.
With all that said: the Newcastle goal is a succession of 50/50 calls that, per se, arent enough to disallow the goal or to overrule the on-field decisions, for various reasons. Bruno Guimaraes forearm to the head should have been a red, it is textbook violent conduct according to the laws of the game, it’s a mistake. Havertz’ tackle is right on the line between yellow and red, to me it’s subjective and the ref could have gone either way.
Just making the decision in the EPL looks more insane, joellington absolutely wasn’t even trying to play the ball at all. Used his hand to handle the ball while shoving Gabi.
Na that was a wrong call by the ref there
Just another day with referees.
Hand balls in European comps are generally insane tbf
Ridiculous decision imo it happens so long before the goal.
Would someone get Mikel on the phone?!!
It’s a different rule in different competition tbf, so whilst I agree in general, this specific example doesn’t help at all.
One of the many things that annoys me about the newcastle incident, is people saying VAR can’t intervene on a handball as he didn’t score the goal.
But that’s not true VAR can say that it was a handball offence if they believe so, like in this video. The goal scorer handball rule is regardless of if it would be a foul otherwise. So the potential handball was totally swept under the rug when discussing the incident.
Similar with the excuses about not having angles for the offside and ball out of play. “well they didn’t have them so what could they do?” Never stopped them before.
And now the “independent” review means we should have to accept that Gabriel wasn’t fouled.
Not saying I agree with this but VAR will not rule on a subjective decision if the ref had clear view of the incident and made a decision.
Handball is subjective by the rules - it depends on arm position, depends on state of play, depends on it denies etc. - this means that it’s outside of VARs scope to make a decision if the ref has seen it because there’s no way to say it’s a clear and obvious error on a subjective decision.
Before I get downvoted I am not for a second saying this makes sense and is how the game should be played. I’m just saying this is what PGMOL will say.
That was a disgusting decision
It all depends on wether the handball is deemed deliberate.
There is absolutely zero ethical or professionally upright basis for the FA and the PGMOL to believe that they are being honest.
We either have the EPL rules where if it touches a art king players arm but they don’t score, the goal stands. If the goal scorer handballs it, then it’ll be disallowed
In the UEFA competitions a handball by a attacking player, doesn’t matter if it’s deliberate or not, will be disallowed.
Even know I don’t agree with the decision I do like the UEFA rule because it’s very clear. None of this “natural position” ball shit.