- Arsenal fell behind at San Siro after sanctioning a penalty against Inter Milan
- Mikel Merino was penalized for a handball in the area after a touch
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Former Arsenal defender Martin Keown claimed handball rules are “ruining the game” as the Gunners awarded a controversial penalty against Inter Milan in the Champions League.
Mikel Arteta’s team seemed headed into a goalless half-time break at San Siro against the reigning Italian champions.
Inter had a chance to take the lead in first-half stoppage time when Mikel Merino was penalized for a handball in the box.
Referee Istvan Kovacs pointed to the penalty spot after Inter striker Mehdi Taremi took a free kick and hit Merino’s hand from close range.
Speaking on TNT Sports, Keown suggested Arsenal had been harsh and claimed the handball rule risks ruining the game.
Arsenal’s Mikel Merino was found guilty of handling the ball in the area from close range.
Hakan Calhanoglu converted a penalty to give Inter Milan the lead at San Siro
Former Arsenal defender Martin Keown suggested handball rule is ‘ruining the game’
‘Is the arm in an unnatural position? It certainly isn’t,” Keown said.
;I don’t know who determines that but the referee has given it and the VAR will never intervene.
“To be honest, I think it’s ruining our game, Arsenal are very bad.”
Fellow expert Rio Ferdinand, however, pointed out that different interpretations of the handball rule are followed in UEFA competitions than in the Premier League.
“It’s unfortunate that the rules are different in competitions,” Ferdinand said. “This is what confuses fans and experts.”
Manchester City were awarded a similar penalty on Tuesday night against Sporting Lisbon, when defender Ousmane Diomande was deemed to have blocked a shot with his arm.
Arsenal were awarded a penalty in their final Champions League match against Shakhtar Donetsk when a cross hit a defender’s outstretched arm.
The Premier League revealed it would be taking a different approach to handball ahead of this season.
“Last season we saw some minor penalties for handball, so if it’s a clear directional movement of the ball from foot to hand, we’re not going to penalize it,” former referee Kevin Friend revealed before the season.
“Basically we are looking for examples where the arm is clearly hit unjustifiably, with the hands above the head, away from the body, to deliberately prevent the ball from entering the area or the goal.”
Sporting Lisbon were aggrieved by a similar decision in handball on Tuesday night.
Arsenal were awarded a penalty against Shakhtar Donetsk after a cross hit a defender’s hand.
Former Arsenal defender Matthew Upson has claimed the Premier League is “way ahead” in enforcing the handball law.
“It’s a crazy decision for the referee to award a penalty for that,” Upson said on BBC Radio 5 Live.
‘The way they apply that law in Europe bothers me.
“We are way ahead of that in the Premier League, the referees understand the proximity, the speed of the ball and all those things are tick, tick.”
“It’s just a little common sense.”
