Vital Spurs Debate Section

Time To Start Penalising The Rules After Latest Spurs Shambles

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It seems to me that the current way some of the most crucial rules in football are applied is turning the game into a shambles. The way VAR is used, and the way handball in the penalty box is interpreted, is rapidly becoming a farce, and both are major issues for the sport.

Most football supporters consider both issues require a reality check. Supporters are not happy and neither are the players. The detrimental effect on the game has been on view for far too long to continue to ignore it.

If the supporters and players find the rules confusing, then what about the clubs? Surely they must share the same concerns. Managers and Chairmen talk to each other. They attend various meetings to discuss football. Why then do they not make a collective effort to amend the offending rules. If ‘people power’ can be effective, then surely ‘club power’ can be equally so.

If the Premier League and Football League clubs made their concerns known to the powers that be why would they not be seriously heard? All clubs should be well aware of the concerns of their supporters and players. And all clubs would have been adversely affected by the way some rules have been poorly interpreted at some time or other.

There is a clear need for consistent and fair officiating of football matches. That would obviously be the aim of all football associations. Fair and consistent officiating is not currently the case and football clubs need to use their position to ensure action is taken to rectify the problem.

Too many decisions have been glaringly wrong! VAR is not a bad thing in itself, but the way it is often administered certainly is. If it takes a VAR five minutes to make a decision … then it should never have been involved in the first place. How is that a clear and obvious error. The referee’s decision should stand.

A penalty, given for an infringement inside the box, is a reasonable consequence. But the current rules in regard to handball (whatever that means) need to be realistic and clearly defined. My view is that a handball has to be intentional. Of course, this would be up to the referees decision (as it used to be) and there would still be some debate on occasions, but it would eliminate handball situations that are unavoidable. When a player jumps for the ball, his arms go outward to balance him. How can you penalise players for that? If the ball hits the arm of a player who has his back to the play, how can he avoid it?

And further …. how is it that play can go on for one or two minutes before an official can raise a flag for an obvious offside. That is utterly ridiculous! Who the hell came up with that idea?

There will never be a ‘mistake-free’ way of officiating football, or any other sport, due to the element of human error. That’s accepted. It always has been. But there has to be a significant improvement on what is currently on view. And if the rule makers do not act, then the clubs should use their collective clout to make it happen. It’s time to penalise the rules. It’s all for the good of the game after all.

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  • Hot Tottingham says:

    AND
    In my most humble of opinions; Roy Keane is an idiot!

  • El Jefe says:

    Idiot or not he makes a very valid point – especially when you are up against the likes of Carroll – your timing has to be impeccable and Dier’s certainly wasn’t and it was not just the 1 occasion either as Spursfect One already pointed out on Sunday also!

    IMHO of course!

  • PompeyYid says:

    EJ, watch the situation again, Carrol gave Dier a little shove in the back, thus arm up for balance, not unnatural, in my semi-pro footballing days I played CH/CB, being 6ft 2″, now whenever I jumped up to head the ball my arms were up in the air for leverage, simple, so saying it is unnatural is utter bullshit.

    Oh do not forget Carrol the Donkey called for hand ball 3 or 4 times in the first 2 mins of joining the field of play. COYS

  • El Jefe says:

    PY – I did mention the other day a slight push in the back – but I don’t think it was Carroll to be fair, I think it was Hayden or whoever was there at the time also – Portuguese commentary indeed picking up on it as I was watching live!

  • El Jefe says:

    PY – just read a report regarding Klopp’s views on the Dier handball and in it clearly states as I thought that there was at least a slight push in Dier’s back but it was Lascelles and not Hayden who did so – Portuguese commentary were right to pick it up – thanks VAR for fcuking nothing – unless they though it was not strong enough to warrant calling it a foul?! Don’t know – not like we get explanations LOL!

    Does offer Eric some reprieve here, in the air wouldn’t take that much to be thrown of course – but then ain’t that what VAR is there for (unless like I say they thought it wasn’t strong enough to call a foul) – oh sorry forgot our special box LOL and that we’re only little Spurs LOL ………..!

    Still think Keano had a fair valid point though that basically as I said on top – against someone like Carroll your timing has to be impeccable and I’m not sure (even factoring in a slight push) that Dier’s jump was that and it wasn’t the only time either!

    He’ll get more opportunities in future for sure – just hope he goes onto prove me wrong for having my doubts and turns into a top CB – can only be beneficial for us at the end of the day – here’s hoping Eric Lad LOL!

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