NEWCASTLE boss Steve Bruce says the new handball rules are ruining football – despite them helping his side bag a point at Tottenham.
Spurs were on course for all three points in their Premier League clash at home to the Magpies as the game went into injury time.
Newcastle boss Steve Bruce admitted his side were lucky to bag a pointCredit: Getty Images – Getty
Eric Dier was punished for this unfortunate handball
But a ball into the box clipped Eric Dier’s arm, and after consulting with VAR and checking the pitchside TV cameras, referee Peter Bankes awarded the penalty.
Spurs boss Jose Mourinho stormed off down the tunnel and Callum Wilson equalised from the spot to seal a dramatic point for his team.
But despite coming away with something from the game, Bruce blasted the decision and called for managers to “get together” to get the rules changed.
It comes after Roy Hodgson blasted the laws after his Crystal Palace side were similarly hit in a 2-1 home defeat to Everton.
Speaking to Sky Sports, Bruce said: “I can understand why Spurs will go beserk and Roy Hodgson reacted like he did.
“It is a total nonsense, we should be jumping through hoops but I would be devastated if that was us.
“Maybe Roy is right, maybe we all need to get together. The decisions are ruining the spectacle.
“We have to get together as managers and say this must stop.”
Jose Mourinho stormed down the tunnel when the decision was given
While the ball did striker Dier’s arm, he was in mid-air jumping to defend the ball in and his arm appeared to be at a natural position.
Sky Sports commentator and former Liverpool star Jamie Carragher was similarly seething with the ‘joke’ decision.
He added: “It’s an absolute disgrace. An absolute joke.
“Newcastle fans will be ecstatic, I can understand that. But everyone else in this country will say exactly what I am saying and what I am thinking.
“Eric Dier jumps for the ball, has no control of where his arms are going, there is a header half a yard away from him, hits him on the back of the arm, has no idea what is going on.”
WHAT ARE THE HANDBALL LAWS?
THIS is when a decision of handball is now given…
Hand/arm is clearly away from the body and outside the “body line” .
Player clearly leans into the path of the ball.
Ball travels some distance.
Ball touches hand/arm that is clearly raised above the shoulder.
Player falls and the hand/arm is extended laterally or vertically away from the body.
Deflection clearly makes no difference to the ball touching a hand/arm that is clearly extended away from the body and/or above the shoulder
Carragher then went on to urge the sport’s governing body to make changes to the rules.
He added: “This is a joke. Whether it’s the Premier League, the FA, Fifa, [Pierluigi] Collina, whoever’s involved in this – stop it, because you are ruining football for everybody.
“Absolute joke.”
SunSport’s ref expert and former official Mark Halsey also labelled the decision ‘a joke’ and ‘a disgrace’.
He said: “It was never a spot-kick. It is a disgrace.
“Dier’s arm in in a natural position because he is jumping in the air and he has got no idea of where the ball is.
“For heaven’s sake, you need your arms to lever yourself up.
“It is ja oke, the Premier League has got to do something about it. This cannot continue because it is killing the game.”
Jamie Carragher labelled the decision to award Newcastle a penalty ‘a joke’Credit: PA:Press Association
SunSport reported how legendary commentator Clive Tyldesley has launched an impassioned plea for fans up and down the nation to rise up and stand against the unpopular new handball rule.
He said: “I’ve never known football so united about anything but it’s our fault, we demanded consistency and that’s what we’ve got – consistent insanity.
“But we can change this now. My opinion, just strip the law back so handball must be deliberate.”
Clive Tyldesley says stop moaning about handball and do something to change it
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
