Former Premier League referee Mark Clattenburg believes the law relating to handball needs changing following Manchester United’s controversial second goal against the Blues at Old Trafford yesterday.
Harry Maguire clearly handled the ball in the build-up but because his shot was off target and Jacob Greaves inadvertently diverted it into his own net, the law dictates that the handball - if accidental, which in this instance is debatable given Maguire’s raised hands - should be disregarded.
"The key point is that the ball which was not goal bound went in off Ipswich defender Jacob Greaves, rather than directly off Maguire. So it was ultimately treated as an own goal, not a Maguire goal,” Clattenburg told United in Focus.
"Under the handball law, an accidental handball by an attacking player isn’t automatically an offence in the build-up unless the player himself scores directly (or immediately after the hand/arm touch, depending on the circumstances).
https://x.com/kimmoFC/status/2094106184127062483
"Since the final touch was by Greaves, VAR judged there wasn’t grounds to disallow it.
"So, basically, Maguire’s hand may have touched it, but because Greaves supplied the final touch, the goal could stand.
"And yes – it looks bizarre, because if Maguire’s touch had been the final touch, the outcome could have been different.
"The law needs changing because this seems unfair and not in spirit of how the law is written.”
https://x.com/PLMatchCentre/status/2094107222057848838