Alan Shearer has his say on the handball incident in Chelsea vs Man United
According to BBC Sport (h/t Football.london), Newcastle legend Alan Shearer has lambasted referees over the handball incident during Chelsea vs Manchester United.
Callum Hudson-Odoi was deemed to have handled the ball which was pointed out by VAR. However, referee Stuart Attwell took a look at the pitchside monitor and stood by his original decision of not awarding a penalty.
While this same incident would have been a penalty earlier, changes to the rules mid-season meant that it wasn’t given. Shearer was visibly frustrated with the whole situation.
“I don’t want to see it given as handball but when you look at the laws… look at the Chelsea players, they’re appealing for handball but it hits Callum Hudson-Odoi’s arm. Under the laws, that should be a penalty.
“I don’t think it should be but because of the laws. Now there is much confusion, the referees are confused, they haven’t got a clue what is right and wrong. It’s been tweaked, it’s been changed mid-season to accommodate it.”
Shearer talked about two other league games to point out the inconsistencies.
“Whether the hand’s high, whether it’s natural, unnatural, you’ve got sleeves, the inconsistencies every single week. I was at Southampton vs Wolves and the ball was smashed from two yards, 100mph, hits his arm, penalty, but there was nothing he could do.
“Twenty minutes later, the defender’s arm is out from 20 yards, doesn’t give a penalty. Last week, West Brom vs Burnley, that wasn’t given. There’s so much confusion around this law it’s incredible, the referees haven’t got a clue.”
Finally, he criticized the whole system and not just the refs.
“It’s not critical of referees at all, it’s critical of the system, what they’re told to do. One thing it’s this, then it changes game to game. The law shouldn’t be tweaked mid-season. They’re confused, they don’t know what to give. It’s like a rabbit in the headlights, they don’t know if they’re coming or going.
“We were told a few years ago they wouldn’t re-referee games, maximum benefit, minimum intervention. Clear and obvious for the howlers, none of that has happened. The referees are worse now than four or five years ago. It’s so confusing.”
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The handball incident was ultimately the biggest talking point from another drab draw played out by Chelsea and Manchester United. Both teams looked to play safe with minimal risks, thereby reducing the excitement factor of the game. The draw sees both sides drop points with the race for top-four heating up.