Another handball 'mess' - is it time to change law?

The ball struck Bryan Mbeumo’s arm during Manchester United’s match against Nottingham Forest, before Matheus Cunha scored the second goal in a 3-2 win. Forest players complained and many expected the goal to be ruled out for handball. Sky Sports pundit Gary Neville said VAR should send the referee to the monitor and believed the decision should be disallowed. VAR reviewed the incident for three minutes and the referee reviewed it for another minute, but the on-field decision stood and the goal was awarded. Roy Keane said the current handball rule leaves ex-professionals confused. Darren Cann called it a punishable handball and suggested returning to a simpler law, while Vitor Pereira requested a meeting to clarify the rules.

"The ball hit the arm of Bryan Mbeumo, who saw his shot blocked before it ran to Matheus Cunha to score Manchester United's second goal in their 3-2 win over Nottingham Forest. United's celebrations were muted as Forest's players complained to referee Michael Sailisbury. Everyone seemed to expect that the goal would be ruled out. Sky Sports pundit Gary Neville was adamant the video assistant referee (VAR) Matt Donohue should intervene and send the referee to the monitor."

"Neville got his way, but the review would not end the way he thought it would. Sailisbury did what referees have now done only 17 times in seven seasons - he stuck with his on-field decision and awarded the goal. "I think that is an absolute shocker in every single way," Neville said. "It's ridiculous. The VAR have been quite clear, they said it has to be disallowed. He has handballed it and brought the ball back into play.""

""VAR looked at it for three minutes and then the referee looks at it for another minute. They are overthinking it. They have got themselves into a real mess there." Former Manchester United captain Roy Keane said the implementation of the current handball rule has left ex-professionals "scratching ourselves" confused. "We are confused ourselves," said Keane. "Ex footballers will all be saying handball and no one would complain about it.""

"Former Premier League assistant referee Darren Cann described it as a "penalisable handball" and believes it could be time to return to a simpler law - while Nottingham Forest manager Vitor Pereira called for meeting to explain the laws."

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