Premier League prepared to lobby for change to handball rule after Eric Dier decision

A series of controversial handballs is likely to see the Premier League ask IFAB to alter the ruling about how contact with the arm above the shoulders should be judged

Eric Dier's handball against Newcastle is likely to trigger calls from the Premier League for changes to the handball rule (Reuters)

The Premier League is prepared to formally lobby for a change in the handball law following the controversy over the penalty award against Tottenham Hotspur's Eric Dier last weekend.

The league is understood to be keen on altering the section of the law which states that handball must be awarded if the ball strikes the hand or arm when it is above shoulder level, as was the case with Dier.

The decision, which cost Spurs victory against Newcastle United on Sunday, was criticised because Dier's arms appeared to be in a natural position for someone who was jumping, and because he was facing away from the ball when it struck him.

However, neither of those factors are relevant under the law, and the Premier League is now understood to be discussing the section of the law about the hand or arm being above shoulder height with the game's lawmakers the International Football Association Board (Ifab).

If necessary, the league is prepared to formally lobby the Ifab for a rule change.

The Ifab's technical and football advisory panels are due to meet this autumn, and any law change would have to be rubber-stamped at its annual general meeting next March, before coming into effect for the 2021/22 season.

It is understood the league believes that as the law stands, Peter Bankes' decision to award the penalty against Dier was correct.

Premier League referees will now apply a different interpretation in other instances of handball though, for offences where the arm is below shoulder level.

In these instances, it is understood the referees will be advised to consider what the expected position of a player's hand or arm is given the action the player is undertaking at the time.

They will also be asked to take into account the player's ability to react, and whether the contact with the arm blocks a direct shot at goal.

Referees have been told to punish any contact with the arms outside a natural silhouette (EPA)

Under the updated interpretation, it is understood the advice to referees is that the penalty against Crystal Palace's Joel Ward would not be given, because his arm was in an expected position considering the action he was undertaking.

Similarly, Manchester United defender Victor Lindelof's handball against Palace would not now be awarded on the basis of his limited ability to react and the expected position of his hand.

The law states that handball should be awarded if the player has made their body unnaturally bigger, but leaves it open to a referee, league or competition to apply its own interpretation of what constitutes 'unnatural'.

PA