'The handball law is killing the game'

1:23pm on Sunday 27th September 2020
By Paul Macdonald

Crystal Palace manager Roy Hodgson was ruthless in his condemnation of the changes to the handball rule in football, claiming that it is 'killing the game'.

Palace defender Joel Ward was penalised for handball after a Lucas Digne flick landed on his arm and after Kevin Friend had consulted the pitchside monitor to award the decision.

And in his post-match interview Hodgson was scathing regarding the changes to the regulations that have been implemented this season.

He said: "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.

"I predict what will happen is players will start flicking the ball onto a hand and screaming 'handball'. I do not believe in the rule.

"People in football find it hard to accept. The referee doesn't think it is handball either. He doesn't want to give it but has to, because that's what he is told to do."

The Premier League is currently on track for the highest number of penalties awarded in a single season, following a flurry of handball awards at the beginning of the season.

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