Can we redo the handball rules to make them something that is cleaner and can be applied consistently rather than whatever we have now?
Even if it is something that seems worse or punishes certain actions that seem harsh, as long as it is something that can be applied equally and consistently without all sorts of subjective calls, it seems like that would be a huge improvement over what we have now.
By the very rules of the game, it’s a 50/50 whether you consider it a handball or not. It hits his upper bicep almost dead on his arm band/sleeve which is in thehandball zone”. But the rule states indirectly from a goal, it depends on if he makes his body “unnaturally bigger out of character for the movement or unjustifiably for his movement for the situation,” that’s the issue. I mean he’s jumping up to chest the ball, your arms rise up to do that, but that’s the matter of contention. You watch any player receive a ball in the air, i.e. a cross field pass from the LB —> RW and the winger will jump exactly as he did to chest the ball, and their arms will be in the same place. It’s entirely natural imo. Secondly, they’ve reviewed the play after MacAllister commits the handball, plays it in, Liverpool lose possession and the ball is headed away twice, and then regained and played in again. It’s a separate phase of play. I was under the impression the ref would review the buildup, not the buildup to the buildup after defensive interference and lost possession.
My real issue is the fact the ref blows the whistle for the goal and actually points to the center circle, then says “oh wait hold up nvm lemme go review actually,” which is just ridiculous. I know he’s got a right to change his decision before play restarts, but does that include being sent to the monitor to review it as well? Honestly just another clusterfuck and it ruined the game for me, cheering on the goal just to have the ref recant his decision.