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      Major change to handball rule with more penalties than ever before set to be awarded – but Premier League exempt

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      UEFA is set to tweak the handball rule – after admitting its referees made a huge mistake at Euro 2024.The Uefa Referees Committee claims hosts Germany should have been awarded a penalty during their quarter-final loss to Spain.Germany were incensed after not being given a penalty at Euro 2024Credit: GettyThe ball struck Marc Cucurella on the arm and was on target, but Anthony Taylor turned down German’s appealsCredit: APGermany were left incensed after Chelsea’s Marc Cucurella appeared to handle in the area during extra time on July 5.Anthony Taylor, the on-field referee, and VAR Stuart Atwell, decided not to award a spot-kick after a lengthy review. Eventual champions Spain would go on to win the game in the 119th minute, leaving Cucurella to be booed for the remainder of the tournament. Following the incident, Uefa’s Referees Committee has recommended a change to its handball guidelines. READ MORE FOOTBALL NEWSIt wants to “strictly punish” instances where a player’s hand blocks a shot on target.According to Spanish publication Revelo, the report reads: “Following the latest UEFA guidelines, hand-to-ball contact that stops a shot on goal should be punished more strictly.”And in most cases a penalty kick should be awarded, unless the defender’s arm is very close to the body or on the body.”Referencing the Cucurella incident, it continues: “In this case, the defender stops the shot on goal with his arm, which is not very close to the body, making himself bigger, so a penalty kick should have been awarded.”Most read in FootballBEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERSThe committee concluded that although a penalty should have been given, Cucurella should not have been booked. Changes to the Uefa guidelines are likely to see more penalties awarded for handball. Watch Cucurella stand on table and sing about ‘drinking Estrella and making Haaland tremble’ during Spain celebrations The tweaks will not however impact the Premier League, a separate governing body. German coach Julian Nagelsmann was inconsolable following ref Taylor’s decision.But he called for the handball rule to be reviewed in light of the incident.Nagelsmann said: “They applied the rule and it was not a penalty. I do not feel cheated. “For me, the question is about making it more practical, more logical, in terms of how this [handball] rule is assessed. “I say this for football [overall], not just today. “You look at the hand. If it is at 3 o’clock, if it is a bit higher or a bit lower. READ MORE SUN STORIES”But there are people with bigger muscles than me, different movements.”Is it going into the clouds or is it going in the goal? In one case it is a penalty, in the other, it is not. If it is going into the stands, then it is no penalty.” More

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      Man City vs Arsenal stopped after EIGHT SECONDS as Rodri falls to floor and immediate VAR check

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      ARSENAL’S trip to Manchester City’s Etihad Stadium was stopped after just EIGHT SECONDS. As the game kicked off, Gunners forward Kai Havertz seemed to run into City’s Rodri. Rodri went down after eight seconds following a collision with Kai HavertzPlay was forced to a stopThe Spanish midfielder went down clutching his face as referee Michael Oliver got immediate instructions from VAR. But the official waved play on following a big break in play with Havertz’s collision adjudged to have been accidental. Fans online sided with Havertz as one said: “Embarrassing from Rodri that is.”Another added: “Embarrassing from Rodri…”READ MORE IN FOOTBALLOne fumed: “That’s genuinely so embarrassing from Rodri.”Another raged: “Absolutely pathetic from Rodri.”Gooner Piers Morgan posted: “Poor Rodri, is he still alive? Looked a really savage light brush with Havertz’s hand.” But it was City fans who were soon cheering as just minutes later Erling Haaland opened the scoring. Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERSThe Norwegian goal machine made in ten in just five appearances for City’s start to the season. Rodri was later forced off after what appeared to be an off the ball incident on 20 minutes. Physios took him off with Mateo Kovacic coming on in replace. The game took a further twist when Arsenal’s summer signing Riccardo Calafiori levelled with a sublime curling effort.What Arsenal and Mikel Arteta must do to topple Pep Guardiola’s Man City More

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      Gary Lineker makes bold prediction on Match of the Day that his ‘good idea’ to fix VAR will eventually come in

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      GARY LINEKER boldly predicted that his radical plan to fix VAR will eventually be adopted by PGMOL.Lineker was discussing a controversial penalty call from Chelsea’s 3-0 win at West Ham with Danny Murphy and Ashley Williams on Match of the Day.Gary Lineker made a bold prediction as he doubled down on his VAR solutionWest Ham felt that they were denied a clear penalty when Wesley Fofana grabbed hold of Crysencio Summerville’s armBoss Julen Lopetegui was fuming with the decisionThe Hammers felt cheated when referee Samuel Barrott failed to award the home side a penalty in the 28th minute.Wesley Fofana grabbed hold of Crysencio Summerville’s arm inside the 18-yard box just before the half-hour mark when the score 2-0.Following a short review, the VAR advised Barrott to stick with his original decision as Fofana’s hold had only been ‘fleeting’. But Lineker, 63, believes he has the solution to fix the video assistant referee system.read more football newsEarlier this year, the former England striker said that an appeal system would help “add to the drama” in football.And he double downed on his claim this weekend on MOTD.He believes that there should be a limited amount of times where VAR can intervene, like the restricted number of challenges in tennis.He said on MOTD on Saturday night: “Until there is an appeal system with VAR it will always be a problem.”Most read in FootballFOOTBALL FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALSThis prompted Murphy to jokingly reply: “That is one of your only good ideas.”Lineker then jested: “I know. And it will come. It will come.”Chelsea Player Ratings vs West HamBoth ex-Liverpool star Murphy and former Everton defender Williams believed West Ham were denied a blatant penalty after Nicolas Jackson’s brace.Fofana was later booked for another challenge on Summerville before he was replaced by Axel Disasi in the 57th minute.Speaking on the Rest is Football podcast in May, Lineker explained: “The only way out of this mess, and I think they should keep offside and goal-line technology.”But I think you either scrap the rest of it or, more realistically, you take it to an appeal system.”You limit the amount of times that VAR can interfere. It can not intervene unless someone appeals.”It has to be the captain and they have got to tell you what they are appealing for.”It does not mean there is a goal and you have got to find some kind of foul somewhere.”They have to stipulate what the foul is, the captain does it, and if it is a foul then it is a foul, there is no bar.READ MORE SUN STORIES”It is the decision that the VAR and the referee come to.”Maybe one appeal a half, but it stops VAR coming into every possible corner that comes in.”VAR: Imagine the future…Martin Lipton’s pro VAR viewFAST forward 12 months to May 18, 2025.After 89 minutes at Molineux, Wolves, needing to win their last game of the season to stay up, are beating Manchester United, who require a point for Champions League football.A ball over the top sends Rasmus Hojlund racing away. The flag stays down. Hojlund scores. Wolves are relegated.And on the way home, the dejected Wolves fans see the still image on their phones.Hojlund was 2ft offside. No question. A shocker.It means at least a year in the Championship, £100million income drop, a firesale of the squad. While United bank an extra £50m.But it’s OK. Every  one of those fans, plus smiling boss Gary O’Neil and the  Wolves board, will line up to say: “No worries. It’s what we voted for. Rough with the smooth.”Yes. And I’ve got a bridge to Ireland to sell you. More

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      Fans slam VAR ‘corruption’ as Tottenham’s Vicario escapes ‘BLATANT red card’ for deliberate handball outside the box

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      FANS were left raging at VAR “corruption” after Guglielmo Vicario escaped a red card for a “deliberate handball” outside the box.The incident occurred in Tottenham’s Premier League clash at Brentford on Saturday.Vicario Guglielmo was not punished after a ‘blatant handball’ outside his boxThe incident occurred in Tottenham’s win over Brentford on SaturdaySpurs were 2-1 up at home when the chaos erupted.Vicario attempted to gather a long ball on the edge of his area.But the Italian’s handling was the definition of “butter fingers.”And the ball went lose as Vicario’s body weight took him over the line of the box.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLA mad scramble then ensued as Vicario attempted to swat the ball away from an incoming Brentford player.He made contact as he cleared the ball to safety.But Vicario was clearly over his line when touching it, technically making his action a handball.However, the goalie was not penalised by referee John Brooks.Most read in FootballFOOTBALL FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALSFans then waited for VAR to take action.Yet they did not intervene after judging it as an incident NOT denying a goal-scoring opportunity.And it was also deemed NOT a red card incident, therefore upholding the original decision of the ref.Fans were left fuming at the ref’s decision not to penalise, while also questioning why VAR couldn’t get involved.One said: “How has neither the ref or VAR seen this blatant handball by Vicario?“More awful officiating in the Premier League.”Another declared: “Vicario has well and truly lost the plot.”One noted: “Vicario is a very lucky boy.”Another boomed: “Vicario is an accident waiting to happen.”One yelled: “What an absolute shambles by the ref.READ MORE SUN STORIES“Vicario clearly handball the ball outside of his area, replays could not have been clearer.”Another added: “How was that not a red card?”THIS IS A DEVELOPING STORY..The Sun is your go to destination for the best football, boxing and MMA news, real-life stories, jaw-dropping pictures and must-see video.Like us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/TheSunFootball and follow us from our main Twitter account at @TheSunFootball. More

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      Fuming Leicester boss Steve Cooper accuses refs’ chiefs of ‘hiding’ footage that showed they made major VAR error

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      LEICESTER boss Steve Cooper has accused refs’ chiefs of ‘hiding’ footage that showed they made a major error.Cooper hit out after VAR ruled Jean-Philippe Mateta’s goal for Crystal Palace was onside in Saturday’s 2-2 draw with the Foxes.Steve Cooper has accused referees of hiding footage that shows they made an errorCredit: PAVAR ruled Jean-Philippe Mateta to be onside for his goalCredit: X @PLMatchCentreLeicester maintained the decision had been made on the basis of the wrong piece of footage — and that the clip released to Match of the Day and Sky Sports was ‘false’.Cooper said: “It was an awful human error which has been hidden a little bit in the media. That’s been as disappointing as the decision.“Everything you’ve seen on Match of the Day or Sky has been false. I didn’t like the fact that it didn’t reach the public or the media.“Don’t hide away from mistakes — own them and stand up for it.”READ MORE IN FOOTBALLLeicester were 2-0 up at Selhurst Park when Mateta scored from Tyrick Mitchell’s cross.The assistant ref flagged for offside but VAR overturned the decision and gave the goal.Mateta then levelled with a late penalty.Cooper claimed: “We’ve seen different images which show that, when they froze the footage for offside, he was.Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERS“In the meeting we had on Monday with the Premier League, we said we’ve had a massive error go against us.”Cooper had run-ins with referees’ body the PGMOL during his time as Nottingham Forest manager. ‘I’d expect a foul’ – Paul Merson claims Arsenal’s winner at Tottenham shouldn’t have stood as VAR fails to interveneBut he added: “I’ve never had to have a conversation like this before. The referees’ department met us on Monday, it should’ve been Sunday.“We showed them broadcast footage that’s been nowhere near the media.“We showed them extra footage, plus some we have, and there’s been no response.”Cooper said the footage Leicester showed at Monday’s meeting was available to VAR during the game, but was not used.Everything you’ve seen on Match of the Day or Sky has been false. I didn’t like the fact that it didn’t reach the public or the media.Steve CooperHe added: “Errors like that should never happen, particularly when VAR is in place.“Have the humility to admit you made a mistake. Show the footage, don’t show the wrong footage.READ MORE SUN STORIES“We can’t release the clips but the Premier League have it as part of our presentation.”The Premier League has been contacted for comment. More

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      Refs’ chief Howard Webb reveals Declan Rice red card was correct – but Arsenal wronged by different incorrect decision

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      DECLAN RICE was rightly sent off for kicking the ball away against Brighton – according to refs’ chief Howard Webb.Speaking on this season’s first edition of decision review show “Match Officials Mic’d Up”, Webb said referee Chris Kavanagh had “no choice” other than to dismiss the England star.Declan Rice was shown a second yellow card for kicking the ball away against BrightonCredit: GettyThe midfielder was left baffled, but Howard Webb claims he was right to be sent offCredit: GettyRice was handed a second yellow by Kavanagh for nudging the ball away as Brighton’s Joel Veltman was taking a free-kick.Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta was outraged by the call – which cost him Rice’s services in the north London derby win at Spurs.But the audio of the conversations between Kavanagh and VAR Andy Madley shows the referee felt he had to give Rice the second yellow – even though he was unhappy at doing so.Kavanagh said “Declan Rice has kicked the ball away. I don’t like it, I don’t like it. But he’s knocked the ball. He’s kicked the ball.”Read More in FootballHis VAR, Andy Madley, confirms that decision, telling Kavanagh: “It’s all checked and cleared. It’s exactly as seen.”And Webb agreed: “As you hear from Chris Kavanagh, he’s clearly seen Declan Rice commit a foul, then kick the ball away for an opponent that was in the process of taking a free-kick.“We’ve messaged very clearly and strongly to the players in pre-season around the importance of not getting involved with the ball once the whistle is gone, not delaying the restart in that way.”Once he’s seen Declan Rice deliberately, clearly kick that ball away from the position of that free-kick, then I don’t think he’s got any choice.”Most read in FootballFOOTBALL FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALSWebb, though, did say Kavanagh was WRONG not to issue Brighton’s Joao Pedro with a yellow card for a similar incident in the first half of the game.He said: “It’s a different type of scenario. But it sits in the same kind of book around delaying the restart. Of course, he should have been cautioned here.Arsenal icon Merson says ‘I’ve got more chance of winning Strictly’ in reply to Postecoglou’s second-year trophy claim“The officials on the field gave him too much benefit of doubt, feeling that the actions weren’t really impactful because they felt that the Arsenal players were not ready to take that throw-in.“That should have been the yellow card. And we’ve certainly messaged that back to the officials.”The Rice incident was among five decisions from the first three weeks of the campaign that were reviewed by Webb.Webb said: “In this situation, the ball strikes Ouattara’s shoulder, upper-arm area. It’s hard to be totally conclusive as to exactly where and I don’t think that’s conclusive enough to intervene.“It goes back to ‘referee’s call’. It’s an important concept. And for those factual matters you need evidence. It’s very clear that the on-field call is wrong, I don’t think we have it here.But Webb confirmed that VAR was right to overturn a penalty initially awarded for a “foul” by Lewis Dunk on Dominic Calvert-Lewin in Brighton’s opening day win at Everton.He also agreed that Manchester City’s Mateo Kovacic did not deserve to concede a handball penalty in the first weekend win at Chelsea and that Wout Faes’ goal for Leicester at Fulham, originally ruled out for offside against Jamie Vardy, was correctly awarded.Changes to the Premier League for 2024/25NOTHING stays the same forever.And that includes the Premier League, which is making a number of tweaks this season.Team news will now be released 75 MINUTES before kick-off, 15 minutes earlier than had been the case before.Things could get crowded on the touchline, with the number of substitutes permitted to warm-up boosted from three players per team to FIVE.There’s also a change to how added time is calculated when a team scores a goal, an update to the ‘multiball’ system and the introduction of semi-automated offsides – but not straight away.Go here to read about all the changes to the Premier League for 2024/25. More

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      Leicester question Premier League over VAR decision in Crystal Palace clash – and think WRONG IMAGE was used

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      LEICESTER have questioned the Premier League regarding the decision to award Jean-Philippe Mateta’s first goal during Saturday’s 2-2 draw at Crystal Palace.The Foxes had led the game 2-0, before being pegged back by the Eagles.Jean-Philippe Mateta’s goal was given following a VAR checkCredit: X @PLMatchCentreIt had initially been deemed offsideCredit: X @PLMatchCentreFollowing a check it was allowed to standCredit: ReutersMateta’s first goal came in the 47th minute, when he prodded home Tyrick Mitchell’s cross from the left.His effort was initially disallowed for offside, before being given following a VAR check.The forward then equalised from the penalty spot in stoppage time.After the game, Leicester boss Steve Cooper raised questions regarding Palace’s first goal.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLHe said: “I really want to see the absolute offside image of the first goal.”If it is, no problem, we’ll hold our hands up, but we can’t be calling offsides on suggestions, which is only what we’ve seen at the moment.”We need to get that image quickly off the Premier League. If it is, I’ll accept it.”With Selhurst Park being such a tight ground, there are not the same array of angles that would be available at other Premier League stadiums.Most read in FootballBEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERSTwo images were released following the decision to award Mateta’s goal.One showed the moment Mitchell struck his cross, in which it is difficult to see whether Mateta was onside or not. ‘I’d expect a foul’ – Paul Merson claims Arsenal’s winner at Tottenham shouldn’t have stood as VAR fails to interveneThe second, which clearly showed the forward behind the line that was drawn, does not show Mitchell playing the ball.According to the Mail, Leicester feel that the image used to deem Mateta onside may not have been taken from the exact moment in which Mitchell played the ball.Feeling aggrieved, club chiefs have asked for further clarification from Prem bosses.It is not the first time that Leicester and the Premier League have been at loggerheads this season.Earlier this month the Foxes won a huge legal battle with the Prem – thus avoiding a points deduction for Profitability and Sustainability breaches.They were also charged by the FA for failing to control their players last month, following their 2-1 defeat to Aston Villa.Steve Cooper was unconvinced by the decision to award Mateta’s first goalCredit: Rex More

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      Premier League could be hit by mass referee holidays as officials win landmark court case

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      REFEREES’ CHIEFS have lost the latest round of their courtroom battle with the taxman and it could mean paid holiday for officials.The Supreme Court ruled that the PGMOL must treat part-time refs from League One downwards as employees and therefore provide benefits to go with that.Part-time referees must be paid holiday leave, rule the PGMOLIt means the body which oversees the officials from the Premier League downwards faces a huge bill for annual leave for around 60 referees and assistants.A whistle-blower told SunSport: “This could mean dozens of referees backdating claims for holidays in lieu. “Imagine them all deciding to take the rest of the season off on full pay? “Sitting on deck chairs with nobody to take charge of games in certain areas of the EFL.”READ MORE FOOTBALL NEWSAt present, referees in the lower reaches of the EFL are treated as self-employed and therefore not entitled to the trappings of permanent employment, although they do get expenses.Referees at this level tend to have other jobs in addition to taking charge of games. While PGMOL provides them with kit and equipment.The battle between PGMOL and HMRC is similar to that in 2021 when multinational online taxi service provider Uber was ordered to treat their drivers as paid employees.Most read in FootballFOOTBALL FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALSPGMOL won the first round of the legal war. HMRC equalised by winning the second, sending the case to the highest court in the land. ‘I’d expect a foul’ – Paul Merson claims Arsenal’s winner at Tottenham shouldn’t have stood as VAR fails to interveneDespite the ruling by The Supreme Court, PGMOL can still appeal the judgement.The case has been dragging on since 2017 and may run for years.Our whistle-blower added: “And you thought VAR decisions took a long time?”The PGMOL claimed they were only contracted for services and therefore should be classed as self-employed.Changes to the Premier League for 2024/25NOTHING stays the same forever.And that includes the Premier League, which is making a number of tweaks this season.Team news will now be released 75 MINUTES before kick-off, 15 minutes earlier than had been the case before.Things could get crowded on the touchline, with the number of substitutes permitted to warm-up boosted from three players per team to FIVE.There’s also a change to how added time is calculated when a team scores a goal, an update to the ‘multiball’ system and the introduction of semi-automated offsides – but not straight away.Go here to read about all the changes to the Premier League for 2024/25. More