WEST BROM fans were left fuming after Kai Havertz’s handball in the build-up to Tammy Abraham’s late equaliser for Chelsea.
Frank Lampard’s men were dreadful in the first half at the Hawthorns as they went in at the break trailing by three.
West Brom fans were fuming after Kai Havertz’s handball was judged to be accidentalCredit: Select
Tammy Abraham grabbed a late equaliser for ChelseaCredit: AP:Associated Press
But a stunning fight back after the break, presumably following some hairdryer treatment from the boss, saw the Blues earn a late point against the Prem new-boys.
Mason Mount got them back into it ten minutes after the restart before Callum Hudson-Odoi quickly added a another.
But they had to wait until added time to earn a dramatic point, with what appeared to be a massive stroke of luck.
Abraham tapped in after Sam Johnstone parried Mount’s effort in a 93rd minute penalty box scramble.
But replays showed the ball clearly strike £70million man Havertz on the arm in the build-up, just moments before Abraham tucked away his chance.
The incident was referred to VAR, which ruled the handball did not “directly lead to a goal” – leaving the Baggies incredulous.
It is not ‘a maybe’ or ‘a possibly’ – it IS a handball.
Slaven Bilic
Speaking after the final whistle, manager Slaven Bilic said: “The third goal is difficult to accept because the handball was so clear.
“I do not even want to talk about it because it is not ‘a maybe’ or ‘a possibly’ – it IS a handball.
“That is end of story, full stop. How people can that is say not a handball is beyond me.
“I am proud of my players and they should be feeling that too in a buzzing dressing room, but it is not like that.
“The lads are disappointed because they did not get the three points they deserved
‘As a manager I have to go into dressing room and see really disappointed faces because a couple of points have been taken for us because of a handball.”
Everybody is confused – Mark Halsey
THE decision to allow Chelsea’s equaliser at West Bromwich has left everyone confused.
The IFAB amended the law to say an accidental handball will now only be penalised if it occurs “immediately” before a goal is scored.
At the Hawthorns the ball hit Kai Havertz on an arm and the goal was allowed to stand. Last season it would have been disallowed.
But when exactly is “immediately”? The new law says the ball must travel “some distance” and/or “several passes” need to be made before the goal is scored.
The Premier League have said that because West Brom had the chance to clear, and should have done so but gave the ball straight to a Chelsea player, it was the next phase of play.
But had it not hit Havertz’s arm would the ball have gone out of play for a goal-kick?
So according to the law you could also argue it should have been disallowed.
The question is whether we want to see goals like this ruled out, and the answer is no. But for me, the change has still left everyone confused
Sky Sports pundit Jamie Redknapp was among those baffled by the decision.
He said: “I don’t like the handball rule full-stop.
“And West Brom fans must be thinking ‘what’s the difference between that and some we’ve seen?’.”
He added: “Robson-Kanu had an opportunity to clear the ball, and yes, it’s hit Havertz’s arm, but you’ve got to clear it away.”
Former West Brom star Gareth Barry was alongside him in the Sky studio, and he believes the ref also got it wrong.
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Barry said: “The West Brom fans will be frustrated because if that’s a defender and it hits his arm, it’s an automatic penalty.
“It’s a confusing rule at the moment and it’s causing problems.
“It did not take long between the handball and the ball ending up in the back of the net.”
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
