Handball

[Prando]

Anyone else fed up with the way they enforce the handball rule these days? It used to be that handball had to be ?intentional? but now the rule seems to be ?your arms have to be in a natural position? to avoid a handball call. So now we are ending up with defenders jumping around the penalty box with their arms so firmly by their sides it?s like watching Riverdance. And if someone blasts the ball into your face from 2 yards away and it then it happens to hit your arm because you don?t want to look like a complete spare while you are jumping to block a shot then that?s hand ball. The natural position for your arms when you are jumping is for them to be flailing a bit, I don?t know how you can jump properly at all without your arms reacting to the inertia in some way.

The ref pretty well had to give the penalty today given the handball rule these days but it?s a very poor rule when it?s administered in such a ridiculous way. And I would feel the same if Plymouth had given up a similar penalty in our favour.

Can?t disagree Calgary buddy. As you say in your last paragraph, the ref had no choice, particularly as his arm was raised high.

As an aside, I am watching England vs Ireland in the Six Nations as I writing. So refreshing to see and hear the ref explaining his decision. Apparently this match is the first time that the ref?s commentary is broadcasted over the PA system to the crowd who are in attendance.