Ex-Premier League referee calls on FA to ‘rewrite the law’ as controversial Davinson Sanchez footage emerges from Tottenham
The decision to award Tottenham a penalty in their 1-0 win over Burnley on Sunday (15 May) “typifies what is wrong” with the handball law, according to Keith Hackett.
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the ex-Fifa and Premier League referee called on the FA to write to the IFAB with a new version of the law that reintroduces the word ‘deliberate’.
As shown on the BBC’s Match of the Day 2 programme, Spurs were awarded a spot-kick when Davinson Sanchez’s pass struck the arm of Ashley Barnes.
Harry Kane converted in trademark style from the spot to keep his side’s hopes of finishing in the top four alive.
“I think that this typifies what is wrong with this law,” Hackett said after analysing the footage with Football Insider correspondent Connor Whitley.
“I think this law should be changed. It won’t be for next season because it’s too late, it’s outside the agenda of the IFAB.
“I’m clear, just simplify it. It should be a handball when the action of a player is deliberate. Just reintroduce the word that was there when I refereed. All we had to consider was whether it was deliberate.
“If you really want to put it in cement, it’s deliberate with movement towards the ball and that’s it.
“What these lawmakers have failed to realise is that controlling your arm position when you’re maybe falling or off balance, your arm helps your balance.
“They deemed the ball had hit his arm, it was extended so the referee was left with no option other than award the penalty.
“But if anybody in football that’s played the game and refereed the game thinks that’s the right path on handball they should give up football. This is nonsense law, no question.
“The IFAB ought to do something about it. The FA are part of the IFAB so someone needs to inform them that this law needs to be changed. The Premier League and EFL can get their heads together, rewrite the law then submit it. That’s their role.”
In other news, a £50million-plus-valued Tottenham star is set to be made to train on his own this summer.