Leeds United beat Everton 1–0 in the first round of the Premier League thanks to a very disputed penalty. David Moyes, the manager of Everton, was quite angry after the game. He said that the only way to avoid such a penalty was to “chop off Tarkowski’s arm.”
Controversial Decision – VAR Confirms the Penalty
Leeds played Everton in their first game after being promoted. Everton had made a lot of changes to their team.
The game included a significant moment of dispute in the 84th minute when Leeds midfielder Stach shot from outside the box and Everton defender Tarkowski bent down to block.
But the ball impacted his arm, which was next to his body. The referee kept the penalty call after talking to VAR. Nmecha scored from the spot, giving Leeds a great start to their return to the Premier League.
Moyes: VAR Failed to Correct the Mistake
Moyes was distraught after the game: “I’m disappointed. I don’t know where else players are meant to put their arms unless you cut them off. ”
He went on to say, “It was a terrible choice. VAR might have changed it. They said it was because he leaned forward toward the ball, yet your hands will naturally hang by your sides even if you bend forward.”
Farke: Decision Was Correct, Crowd Had an Influence
Daniel Farke, the manager of Leeds, had a different opinion: “I hope the referee was right. I assumed it would be a penalty right then and there. The home crowd’s energy also had an effect. I was afraid that the VAR review was taking too long, but if it does take that long, it usually implies the judgment won’t be changed.”
Handball Rule Sparks Debate Again
Law 12 of the Laws of the Game says that a handball happens “when a player’s hand or arm touches the ball and, at that moment, their body is considered unnaturally enlarged.”
The FA’s official website goes on to say that “when the position of the hand or arm is not a result of, or justifiable by, the player’s specific body movement in that situation, it will be considered to have unnaturally enlarged the player’s body.”
In fact, in past Premier League seasons, many penalties were issued because of handball arguments. This is why the International Football Association Board (IFAB) made the regulations clearer and said that penalties should only be given for “unnatural actions.”
The Premier League also told players that they didn’t have to keep their arms behind their backs or close to their bodies while they moved. But this most recent ruling could start a heated argument once more over how to read the handball rule.
