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      Major update to handball rule with Uefa to rip up laws as even PRESIDENT admits ‘I absolutely do not understand it’

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      THE handball rule is set to be ripped up again – after even Uefa president Aleksander Ceferin said he “absolutely doesn’t understand it”.Debates about what is or is not an offence have plagued the season as players, managers and fans have shown their disbelief at decisions.
      This Tomas Soucek incident against Chelsea was not awarded as handballCredit: Richard Pelham / The Sun
      Brentford defender Aaron Hickey conceded a penalty for this handball against Brighton at the weekend but escaped punishment for a later incidentCredit: Getty
      Last weekend, Brentford’s Aaron Hickey was penalised for one offence but escaped a potential second penalty, both in stoppage time, in the 3-3 draw at Brighton.
      Arsenal players have incurred two fines for protests about penalty claims against Oxford and Newcastle, while PGMOL chiefs admitted Chelsea SHOULD have been awarded a spot-kick in the last minutes of their draw at West Ham.
      And now Ceferin has revealed Uefa has demanded talks with Fifa and the Law-making International FA Board in an attempt to sort out the issues.
      Ceferin said: “I absolutely do not understand the Law as it stands – and something must be done.
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      “At the end of this month we will form a special group, which will be led by out Head of football, Zvonimir Boban.
      “We want to have all the greatest coaches and former football players, the biggest names in world football,  in it. 
      “What’s clear is that the current handball law is really obscure. No one understands it any more. 
      “So we really need a conversation here, finding solutions and clarifying some issues.
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      “The Laws say that a player should be penalised by making himself bigger – but what should they do? 
      “How can you make yourself smaller if you fall to the ground or if you jump in the air – the hands are where they are, you can’t always press them to the body.”
      Ceferin revealed he had pushed the issue with Fifa counterpart Gianni Infantino.
      He added: “We all need to do something about this together. 
      “What we have now is very bad for football, which is supposed to be a game which is very understandable and clear to everyone.
      “When it comes to offsides, we can debate whether VAR should consider a tolerance area and not intervene at every millimetre.
      “But even as it is, things are clear and nobody can argue with you. 
      “Yet handball decisions are strange and it is difficult for the referees to make decisions. 
      “If someone boots the ball at you from two metres, what can you do? 
      “I saw a game when the ball hit the defender’s thigh, then his hand, and the referee awarded a penalty. 
      “How a player could prevent this is really beyond me. 
      “We are having a very serious conversation about this, and we are increasingly coming to the conclusion that – once again – no one currently understands the Law.
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      “So we have to find solutions and find a way using football intelligence or logic to make sure the referees don’t look for an alibi in VAR and then award every contact with the hand just to protect themselves. 
      “This is a big problem and we have to solve it wisely.” More

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      Man Utd set to be fined record amount after being charged by FA for failing to control players against Fulham

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      MANCHESTER UNITED face their FOURTH player misbehaviour fine of the season after ALSO being charged by the FA for their part in last Sunday’s mayhem against Fulham.Wembley beaks are set to hand Fulham striker Aleksandar Mitrovic a potentially season-ending ban for shoving and then confronting referee Chris Kavanagh.
      Manchester United are set to land another fine for player misbehaviourCredit: Rex
      It comes after the mayhem during the FA Cup clash against Fulham last SundayCredit: Rex
      The Craven Cottage outfit and boss Marco Silva will join Mitrovic in the FA dock for the lawless response to Kavanagh’s decision to follow VAR advice and send off Willian for a goalline handball offence.
      But now United have been hit by an FA rap for their players surrounding Kavanagh when he initially awarded only a corner.
      An FA spokesperson said: “Manchester United FC has been charged after its players surrounded a match official during the 71st minute of The FA Cup tie against Fulham FC on Sunday 19 March.
      “It’s alleged that Manchester United FC failed to ensure its players conducted themselves in an orderly fashion and/or do not behave in a way which is improper.
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      “Manchester United FC has until Monday 27 March to respond.”
      SunSport revealed earlier this week that Prem and EFL clubs have already been fined almost £1.3million for on-field rucks and abuse of officials.
      United have been fined £137,000 for three separate previous offences of failing to control their players, in the matches against Newcastle and Chelsea in October and Crystal Palace last month.
      The fourth offence is likely to bring the Old Trafford club a further fine of around £75,000.
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      This will equal the biggest single player misbehaviour fine levied so far this term, against Manchester City for surrounding ref Anthony Taylor in their win at Arsenal.
      The Gunners have paid out the biggest sum this season, totalling £185,000. More

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      Chaos in Bundesliga as Bayer Leverkusen star is booked for diving twice before VAR overturns both to give penalties

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      MANY hate it, but Bayer Leverkusen star Amine Adli is absolutely loving VAR right now.The Frenchman would have been looking at a suspension after TWICE being booked for diving in Sunday’s victory over Bayern Munich.
      Amine Adli was firstly booked for this ‘dive’ against Bayern MunichCredit: Sky Sports
      Moments after that decision was overturned the Leverkusen ace was booked again after being fouledCredit: Sky Sports

      However, both times the official at the helm of the video technology intervened to not only overturn the decisions but to award Leverkusen a penalty.
      Bayern were leading through Josh Kimmich when the first incident occurred in the 53rd-minute when Adli was clipped by Benjamin Pavard.
      Referee Tobias Stieler instantly waved away the protests and issued a caution to the 22-year-old attacker.
      Fortunately, VAR jumped in and after he had checked the pitchside monitor, Stieler overturned his original decision, wiping out the yellow and awarding a spot-kick that was dispatched by Exequiel Palacios.
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      Adli shook the official’s hand – but he was raging with him again in the 70th-minute when he was booked again for simulation.
      But once again it was determined that he had in fact been fouled as the yellow was rescinded and a penalty awarded.
      It was Palacios that stepped forward for a second time to convert and seal a 2-1 win for Xabi Alonso’s Leverkusen in the Bundesliga clash.
      Adli was not the only one to be relieved after VAR’s involvement – ref Stieler was too.
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      He said afterwards: “He was my lifesaver – and also the lifesaver for the game.
      “In the end, both teams were happy because the right decision was made.
      “The only thing left to do is take it with humour.
      “We hugged each other during the game and also after the game. Now he promised me the shirt.”
      Leverkusen’s Amine Adli did eventually have a hug for the referee at full timeCredit: AP More

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      How Premier League would look WITHOUT VAR with Man Utd and Liverpool tumbling down table

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      ANOTHER weekend of VAR controversy left fans up and down the country asking big questions.Supporters of Wolves, Newcastle, Spurs and Fulham were up in arms over big calls going against their teams.
      VAR decisions dominated the weekend’s actionCredit: Getty
      Various calls had fans scratching their headsCredit: Rex
      But Prem refs’ chiefs insist there are now far more correct decisions than wrong ones – with the vast majority of errors overturned.
      The biggest issue of all is how VAR has changed things this season.
      And SunSport’s analysis of the 81 on-field calls overturned on the advice of the men in the booth at Stockley Park does show a significant impact.
      We have looked at every decision and altered the results that were affected, although we have also assumed that each of the nine penalties initially awarded and then rescinded was scored.
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      Without VAR, our study finds that only SEVEN teams – the top two, bottom four and 11th-placed Aston Villa, would still be in the same place in the table.
      Arsenal’s current eight point lead over Manchester City would have been reduced to just three, leaving Pep Guardiola’s men very much the favourites to retain their crown.
      In the fight for the other Champions League places, Spurs would be third, Newcastle fourth and Manchester United fifth, but with Brighton, in sixth but only five points behind Tottenham with three games in hand, looking seriously likely to gatecrash the elite for the first time.
      Liverpool’s Champions League hopes would have been almost ended already, with Jurgen Klopp’s side currently five points better off than they would have been without the video refs.
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      But at the other end of the table, Leeds would stand 12th, four points and two places better off, while Crystal Palace’s woes would have intensified with the Eagles down to 16th and just a point clear of the drop zone.
      Bruno Fernandes’ winner against Manchester City was controversially allowed to standCredit: Getty
      Conor Coady’s goal against Liverpool was disallowedCredit: Getty

      Total VAR changed decisions: 84
      Goal awarded: 10
      Goal disallowed: 35
      Penalty awarded: 20 (11 scored, 9 missed)
      Penalty disallowed: 9*
      Penalty retaken: 1 (1 after miss, 1 scored retake;)
      Red cards: 6
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      Red cards annulled: 3* (Gabriel annulled and penalty overturned)
      Potential red card overturned for previous foul: 1* (Gabriel/Bamford incident)
      Gabriel and Patrick Bamford were involved in a controversial incident earlier this seasonCredit: PA More

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      Fulham striker Mitrovic should get TEN-GAME ban for elbowing ref.. we cannot have this in football, says Halsey

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      ALEKSANDAR MITROVIC should be hit with a ten-game ban for his part in 40 seconds of second-half madness.The chaos at Old Trafford started with the VAR decision to award a penalty and send off Willian for a clear handball.
      Fulham striker Aleksandar Mitrovic was sent off for this incident in the game against Manchester United
      Mitrovic was dismissed after Fulham boss Marco Silva and winger Willian had already been given their marching ordersCredit: Getty
      Willian had to go for denying a goalscoring opportunity.
      I was surprised Chris Kavanagh did not see it in real time but that is what VAR is there for.
      Marco Silva approached the pitchside review area while referee Kavanagh was watching the incident and that is an automatic caution.
      But Silva must have said something which led Kavanagh to issue a red.
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      In some ways Silva was to blame for Mitrovic’s action — managers have got to set an example.
      Mitrovic has technically assaulted Kavanagh by shoving his elbow into him and has then gone at the official with a volley of abuse.
      The FA have a duty of care to referees and we cannot have this at any level of football.
      They have to set an example by sanctioning Mitrovic heavily and I would expect both clubs to be charged with failing to control their players.
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      To Kavanagh’s credit, the referee remained calm throughout the madness.
      Mitrovic himself had initially put Fulham ahead in the game five minutes after the break.
      Bruno Fernandes then equalised for United from the spot after Silva, Mitrovic and Willian were all dismissed.
      Marcel Sabitzer put the Red Devils ahead just minutes later before Fernandes sealed a 3-1 win in injury time.
      The victory sets up an FA Cup semi-final meeting with Brighton at Wembley next month. More

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      Newcastle idol Alan Shearer tells VAR to ‘f*** off’ in X-rated blast having called handball rule ‘pile of s***’

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      NEWCASTLE legend Alan Shearer has told VAR where it should go, in not-so-nice terms. The Magpies saw a goal disallowed in their 2-1 win over Nottingham Forest when Sean Longstaff was deemed to be offside in the build-up of Elliot Anderson’s headed effort.
      VAR was once again embroiled in controversyCredit: Alamy
      And Alan Shearer took to Twitter to vent his angerCredit: Getty
      However, the ball was played by two Forest defenders BEFORE hitting Longstaff.
      The Toon faithful were understandably furious, with even the rulebook backing up their side.
      Shearer joined in with the chorus of anger online, saying on his Twitter page: “Oh f… off VAR.”
      The Premier League all-time top goalscorer later added: “I’ve sat in the stand as a fan. I’ve sat in the studio as a pundit.
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      “I’ve watched in the pub tonight with my mates and you’re getting it all wrong VAR. It’s not what you told us.”
      The X-rated rant comes just days after he blasted the handball law when Manchester City were awarded a penalty in the Champions League.
      It came as RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Henrichs saw the ball strike his arm from close range after Rodri’s downward header in mid-air.
      Shearer was up in arms online with the decision, writing: “What a pile of s*** the handball law is. #pathetic.”
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      Despite the introduction of VAR, refereeing continues to suffer from a lack of efficacy.
      Former Prem whistler Mark Halsey has also voiced his displeasure with the current use of VAR and the offside law.
      He told SunSport: “The offside law is an ass.
      “It’s a nonsense decision (Longstaff offside). Surely it’s a deliberate play by Forest defender Felipe?
      “But goals being ruled out for something like this does not sit right with me.” More

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      Mark Halsey: The offside rule is an ass and Elliot Anderson’s Newcastle goal being ruled out doesn’t sit right with me

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      FORMER Premier League referee Mark Halsey has branded the decision to rule out Elliot Anderson’s goal against Nottingham Forest a “nonsense decision”. The 20-year-old was robbed of his first Newcastle goal after VAR instructed Paul Tierney to go to the monitor over offside concerns.
      Elliot Anderson thought he had his first Newcastle goal – but Paul Tierney had other ideasCredit: PA
      Mark Halsey took exception to the controversial decision at the City GroundCredit: Rex
      The ref then controversially ruled out the goal.
      It has sparked debate on the offside rule with Tierney’s interpretation not shared by many fans and pundits.
      The moment came after the impressive Alexander Isak played a low cross into the Forest area.
      It was then cleared by Felipe into the path of an offside Sean Longstaff who briefly touched the ball back to Isak.
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      The striker delivered a wonderful cross for Anderson who sparked wild celebrations in the away end after converting his chance from close range.
      But Felipe was judged to have not deliberately played the ball to Longstaff and therefore making the Newcastle midfielder offside.
      Halsey, who refereed hundreds of Premier League games between 1999 and 2013, disagreed with the reasoning.
      He told SunSport: “The offside law is an ass.
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      “It’s a nonsense decision. Surely it’s a deliberate play by Forest defender Felipe?
      “But goals being ruled out for something like this does not sit right with me.”
      Anderson’s came with the game drawn at 1-1.
      Emmanuel Dennis scored an impressive chipped effort in the first-half but that was cancelled out by an equally inventive goal by Isak at the end of the 45.
      The Swedish forward would eventually get the winner for the Magpies with a stoppage time penalty. More

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      Mike Dean snubbed by Premier League chief Howard Webb for a FIFTH week running

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      MIKE DEAN has not been selected by Premier League refs’ chief Howard Webb for a FIFTH week running.The dedicated VAR official was last on duty for Leicester’s 4-1 hammering of Tottenham on February 11.
      Mike Dean has not been selected for his dedicated VAR role for the last five weeksCredit: Reuters
      PGMOL refs’ chief Howard Webb has decided not to select DeanCredit: Getty
      The clash at the King Power last month was on matchday 23 of the current season.
      But Dean has not been appointed for a top-flight game since.
      And he has been snubbed yet again in the latest list of Premier League officials selected for matches this weekend.
      SunSport understands Dean’s continuing absence has been a selection decision by Webb.
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      Dean posted an image of the programme from the League Two fixture between Newport and AFC Wimbledon on his Instagram story on Tuesday night.
      The Wirral whistler retired as a referee at the end of last season following 22 years of on-field duties in the Premier League.
      He was then appointed by the PGMOL as a full-time VAR official.
      Dean is no stranger to a weekend off duty, though.
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      In October, the ref headed to Spain for a bit of R&R after being given a match break.
      Dean hilariously shared an image of a fully-stocked beer fridge on Insta – as well as a few snaps of him golfing.
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