The new handball rule is "ruining football" according to Jamie Carragher, who watched Tottenham concede a late penalty against Newcastle after another controversial decision.
A weekend of high drama saw a number of penalties given, with Crystal Palace boss Roy Hodgson furious after his side suffered against Everton.
Jose Mourinho refused to talk about the late penalty that gave Newcastle a totally undeserved draw at Tottenham, when Eric Dier was penalised for handball after the ball brushed his arm while he jumped for a header.
Dier was also facing away from Andy Carroll who nodded the ball against him from close range, and Sky Sports commentator Carragher could not hide his disgust for the new rule.
Referees are being encouraged to look closely at handball decisions on the pitchside monitor, and a new directive says they need to award a penalty if a player's arm is away from his body.
The rule is being roundly slammed by players, managers and pundits around the world of football, with Carragher one of the most vocal while watching events unfold at Tottenham on Sunday.
✋ Who likes this new handball rule then?
— Sporting Life Football (@SportingLifeFC) September 27, 2020
💥 Definitely not Spurs fans - Newcastle's only shot on target is Callum Wilson's penalty...#TOTNEW #THFC pic.twitter.com/0TJfORQFEA
"It’s an absolute disgrace, an absolute joke," Carragher said on Sky Sports. "Newcastle fans will be ecstatic and I can understand that, but everyone else in this country will say exactly what I'm sayng and what I'm thinking.
"Eric Dier jumps for the ball, has no control on where his arms are going to be. There’s a header half a yard away form him, it hits him on the back of the arm, he has no idea what’s going on.
"This is a joke, whether it's the Premier League, the FA, UEFA, Collina, whoever is involved in this, stop it, because you’re ruining football for everybody."
Football reacts to latest handball controversy
It wasn't just Carragher who was fuming at the new handball rule as players, former players and pundits all took to Twitter to voice their opinions.
Ludicrous. Utterly ludicrous law exacerbated by VAR. Can we have our game back please?
— Gary Lineker (@GaryLineker) September 27, 2020
To FIFA. Can we have our game back !! Please 😎🙏.
— Glenn Hoddle (@GlennHoddle) September 27, 2020
The FA needs to start asking themselves some serious questions. Absolutely shocking decisions and they are hiding behind the referees
— Jan Vertonghen (@JanVertonghen) September 27, 2020
Sort this out @FIFAcom @UEFAcom @premierleague this penalty nonsense is ruining the game! #TOTNEW
— Jamie Carragher (@Carra23) September 27, 2020
