Just mentioned on commentary that Rudiger complained to the referee that he had been racially abused.
I thought the new handball rule was only applied in the event of a goal? I certainly haven't seen a free kick given for it when a 'goal' hasn't been scored.
r Sorry I should have explained. The rule applies for goals or for goal scoring opportunities. What's the difference really? The result will still be the same - a free kick.
I think it is better for us Chelsea won. A bit of (over) confidence and they may rest a few. Spurs will come back on Boxing Day against Brighton at home and on the 28th away to Norwich, then be (over) confident going into New Years Day. This prediction lark is easy. Roll over Lawro.
I'd suggest that is possibly because referee's are not generally seeing such handballs during live play - even though handballs leading to goal-scoring opportunities are just as outlawed now as those which leads to goals, as Tom says - however, because not everything goes to VAR, those handballs which don't result in a goal will invariably not get picked up. It's why I kept on making the point in the City-Liverpool game, about the Trent "handball". Whether it was or wasn't was completely irrelevant. Silva handballed it first. So City could not have been awarded a penalty as a result of it.
I thought I read somewhere after the game you mention that a penalty is classed as a different phase of play and therefore the handball rule doesn't apply? If they're checking every penalty to see if there was any arm contact in the build up then that's a bit silly imo and no wonder it's taking so long at times.
"It is an offence if a player...gains possession/control of the ball after it has touched their hand/arm and then...creates a goal-scoring opportunity" My interpretation of that throughout this season has been that a penalty should not be awarded if there is a handball in the lead up. Just like a goal should not be awarded. http://www.thefa.com/football-rules.../football-11-11/law-12---fouls-and-misconduct
You may well be right - and I think that's what I assumed originally - but I'm certain that in the aftermath of the Liverpool/City game they said that although a penalty is clearly a goalscoring opportunity, it's classed as a separate phase of play and so the new handball law doesn't apply. Good chance I'm completely wrong mind, I'll try and find something later once I've put my lad to bed.
I was surprised by today's result which Watford are supposed to have deserved, I think that having Deaney back will benefit Watford and Pearson's appointment is pretty inspired as he is just the tonic they need. A loss today would have made the chance of escaping relegation difficult as Watford would have been separated from the rest of the pack. Today's result keeps them within touching distance. Man Utd fans cannot be pleased and the way back to their previous pre-eminence now seems very unlikely. They are beginning to resemble the Man Utd of the late 70s and 80' where flashes of hope were quickly dashed by longer periods of mediocrity. I was convinced that Man Utd would come good this season and the OGS would find the solution to rebuild the team in SAF's image but this doesn't look like it is going to happen. Another false dawn at Old Trafford but it would be better still is they sunk even further down the table.
That red for Son is massive. They have two really intense draining games before our clash. Brighton & Norwich will be just as pleased as us with that suspension, lets hope they don't go too spursy too quickly.
What’s happened to De Gea? He should have left Man Utd years ago. Watford’s disallowed goal should have stood too imo.
