Roy Hodgson has a point.

Morning all.

Yesterday’s fixtures proved once again that the rules in the game are confusing. When is handball in the penalty area deemed to be against the rules and therefore a penalty? What about leading up to a penalty when a player has committed a handball offence and when does a players arm begin and end? I think the simple answer is that it depends on who is holding the whistle at the time.

Go back to our last match when the ball struck Gabriel’s arm. In my opinion, it was a penalty but one only has to read different reports online where the writer, like the referee on the day, disagreed. In the Utd game, added time was over before the so called handball decision eventually gifted Utd a victory they didn’t deserve.

VAR, or rather those who operate it are in my opinion, are inconsistent. The own goal scored by Lewis Dunk shouldn’t have stood because Maguire tugged him backwards as the cross came towards him. Was there much of a difference between the Fernandes tackle which earned Brighton their penalty and the Pogba challenge which VAR advised Kavanagh to review before changing his decision?

Dont get me wrong, I couldn’t give a toot about either of the two clubs, I’m just highlighting why the Premier League will never be a truly fair competition. Had Brighton converted one or two of the five attempts which hit the woodwork, they wouldn’t have lost the match.

Roy Hodgson had a moan and groan too after his side were beaten by a strong looking Everton team. A penalty decision was the difference between the two sides. The ball struck Joel Wards hand from close range. Kevin Friend was advised to review his original decision by using the pitch-side monitor and the rest as they say is history.

It’s completely unacceptable. It’s destroying my enjoyment of the game of football. I can’t understand how everyone in the game – the Premier League, referees, managers and coaches – have allowed this rule to come into operation. I don’t want to profit from it or lose from it. – Roy Hodgson.

Hodgson also suggested that players might be tempted to deliberately kick the ball at a players hand/arm just to get the penalty decision and I think he has a point. If footballers are prepared to dive for a penalty, who’s to say they wouldn’t resort to such dirty tactics?
Surely the word ‘deliberate’ is the easiest way to determine whether hand ball is really handball. With the use of the pitch-side monitor it has to be easier for a referee to spot whether a player defending in his own box has deliberately used his hand or arm, wherever the latter starts and ends, to gain an advantage.
Football is a simple game but in my opinion, those who make the rules are confusing it. A cynic might be tempted to say that those who implement said rules on a match day, are unfairly applying them.
I still maintain that Arsenal were fortunate not to concede a penalty last weekend but you can bet your bottom dollar that if the ball hits one of our players hands in the penalty area tomorrow night, whoever the referee is won’t hesitate to point to the spot.
See you in the comments guys.

 

 

 

 

40 thoughts on “Roy Hodgson has a point.

  1. rico says:

    A new interpretation of the handball law was introduced at the beginning of this season. Under these new rules, a player will be penalised for handball if:

    The hand/arm is clearly away from the body and outside the “body line” .
    The player clearly leans into the path of the ball.
    The ball travels some distance.
    The ball touches a hand/arm that is clearly raised above the shoulder.
    The player falls and the hand/arm is extended laterally or vertically away from the body.
    A 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

  2. ScottfromOz says:

    Morning Rico,
    These constant variations of the handball rules don’t help anyone at all.
    Get rid of the VAR, simplify the rules and I think most fans will will be happy.

  3. Sue says:

    Nice one, Rico! We have Pawson tomorrow and yes you’re right – no hesitation whatsoever!! Plus seeing as Anfield is the new Old Trafford, ours will be waved away!

  4. rico says:

    Morning Scott, Sue.

    VAR is a must in my opinion. Just needs more simplistic rules which are black and white. There’s too much grey in them.

  5. ScottfromOz says:

    Rico, yes I agree.
    I didn’t word my comment properly.
    Get rid of it as it stands OR simplify the rules.
    Use it for black and white calls.
    Let the referee make the subjective decisions.
    The way it’s being used now is just killing the game imo.

  6. rico says:

    Or replace the idiots making the match day decisions Scott. Lol

    I hope it’s not false hope Sue. We were lucky at The Emirates to a degree as I think they were still celebrating their title but at Wembley we more than matched them. I reckon the low, high and middle block will be deployed by Mikel Arteta. 😆

  7. ScottfromOz says:

    Rico,I think it should be just used without emotion and without opinion, imo.
    It can work, but it’s never been used the right way in any code.
    It’s pretty simple to get right, I reckon.

  8. Aussie Geoff says:

    Hi Rico and all just wondering instead of the referee blowing his whistle at half time and the end of the game should we introduce a time keeper instead similar to other sports

  9. Cicero says:

    If in the hurly burly of a penalty box a player with the perception and skill to kick a ball at a defenders arm, normally a moving target, he deserves to be awarded a penalty.

    It is legitimate to kick the ball at another player so that it goes out of play for a corner or throw in. So why not to win a penalty?

  10. rico says:

    Hi Geoff, not a bad idea and it certainly works in rugby.

    If the game goes down that route Cicero, I think I’d give up watching. Out right cheating imo.

  11. Cicero says:

    Suddenly VAR is wonderful. Newcastle awarded a penalty after 95 minutes when the ball hit the back of the defenders arm while he had his back to the ball. Result 1 – 1

  12. Aussie Geoff says:

    Like Jose response when asked about penalty that cost Tottenham, he said he would not comment about it because he would have to give Money away and if he does that he would rather give it to charity than the FA

  13. Sue says:

    That was Newcastle’s only shot on target 😂 Maureen stropped off 😂
    That was one of the most boring games
    – like watching paint dry… until Dier stuck out his arm 😂😂

  14. Limey says:

    Former Arsenal players doing well this weekend,Chuba Akpom scored on his debut for Middlesbrough, Kyle Bartley scored for West Brom,Luke Ayling played for Leeds in their win,Isaac Hayden lucky to come away with a point but hey it’s Spurs !

  15. rico says:

    Always good to see ex Arsenal youngsters doing well Limey. Especially Hayden. Lol

    Cicero, justified or Vardy at his ‘best’ in the box.

  16. Cicero says:

    Only the fourth penalty looked a bit tame. A hand briefly on the players shoulder, hardly enough to pull him over but he went down and “won” a penalty. The others were down to rank bad defending and clumsiness. Vardy deadly from the spot but did little else.

  17. frednerk says:

    Evening Rico and All
    Getting a bit like cup games now
    penalty shoot outs 10 mins after
    the game,should have finished.
    We had Rio pretending an extra
    10 mins was normal time.
    We had Harry Potter keeping a
    stiff upper-lip,thought was goner cry,
    then to top it all.
    We had little Maureen telling us
    what a great team he has,
    but are so unlucky,having nothing
    to show for all that hard work
    over the years.
    he must have forgot about that
    europy game against Lokimotive
    who ever the other week 1 nil down
    10mins to play they had two players
    sent off which opened the door
    for them to snatch 2 goals against 9 men.

    As I always say to myself,them spuds
    nearly always cheer you up on weekends
    like these.

  18. ScottfromOz says:

    Cicero, spot on.
    I saw the highlights just now and the penalties were pretty obvious, though Vardy falls as easily as any one.
    Still, the defending was pathetic to say the least.

  19. Aussie Geoff says:

    Should any goal scored by a penalty not count towards top goal scorer for the year, look at Leicester Vardy gets hat trick and3 goals towards top goal scorer but 2 of the goals were penalty

  20. Sarah says:

    VAR seems to favour Manchester United and Liverpool more than any other team, I am not saying so because I am an Arsenal fan just my honest opinion. I wish Gunners all the best of luck as we face the defending champs

  21. ScottfromOz says:

    It’s an interesting question, Geoff, but then penalties are (supposedly) given when a clear goal scoring chance is denied.
    Maybe make the person taken down take the penalty or in a handball, the player who kicked it……
    No doubt some players goal scoring tallies are inflated due to penalties for dives, though.

  22. Aussie Geoff says:

    Scott I just feel that the golden boot would mean more if it only applies for goals scored in play not through penalties or like you said the player awarded the penalty should take it.
    Can you imagine coming second only one goal behind the winner and taking no penalty shots but the winner has taken two penalty shots ands scored with both

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