Lawmakers change rules on handball

ACCIDENTAL handball which leads to a teammate scoring a goal or having a goal-scoring opportunity will no longer be considered an offence, the International Football Association Board has announced.

The IFAB has agreed a change which comes into effect from July 1, though competitions can introduce changes prior to that date.

It will remain a handball if a player scores accidentally with their hand or arm or uses their hand or arm directly before scoring.

The IFAB also clarified the offside law, saying the definition for handball, whereby the arm ends at the bottom of the armpit, must be used to determine offside.

FIFA boss Gianni Infantino said he “cannot exclude” the possibility of semiautomated offside technology being used at the 2022 World Cup.

He added that Arsene Wenger had suggested a proposed change to the offside law, which would see a player deemed onside if any part of them which can score a goal is in line with the second-last defender.

WEST Brom will be at a ‘massive disadvantage’ when they take on Newcastle United tomorrow.

That is the verdict of Albion boss Sam Allardyce, who feels his team will have a ‘big problem’ recovering from Thursday’s 1-0 defeat to Everton both physically and mentally.

Allardyce was left to lament a VAR decision going against his side as the Baggies lost at the Hawthorns to remain second bottom, nine points adrift of Newcastle.

Conversely, the Magpies have had plenty of time to recover from Saturday’s 1-1 draw with Wolves but have been rocked this week by reports of a bust-up between manager Steve Bruce and winger Matt Ritchie hitting the national press.

Nonetheless, Allardyce feels his side faces an uphill task to beat Newcastle to not only further reel them into relegation trouble but pile more pressure on the under-fire Bruce.

He said: “Newcastle are not playing and we are playing on a Thursday night.

“That is going to be a massive disadvantage to us to not have the time to recover.

“It will all be about mentality, grit and determination and it will be about the size of your heart and your willingness to push yourself through the pain barrier.

“That is what we will have to do because Newcastle will come here nice and fresh and we will still be feeling the effects of the Everton game. I have to try and get the lads physically and mentally prepared.”