Sheffield United manager's view on VAR as IFAB announce major change to handball law

After the latest high-profile disallowing of a goal for attacking handball on Thursday evening - when Josh Maja’s goal for Fulham against Spurs was ruled out, after Spurs defender Davinson Sanchez smashed a clearance against the arm of Mario Lemina from a couple of yards away – IFAB has agreed a change, which will come in from July 1.

However, competitions have the flexibility to introduce changes prior to that date, IFAB said.

An IFAB statement read: "As the interpretation of handball incidents has not always been consistent due to incorrect applications of the law, the members confirmed that not every touch of a player's hand/arm with the ball is an offence."

It added: "Accidental handball that leads to a team-mate scoring a goal or having a goal-scoring opportunity will no longer be considered an offence."

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

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Scott Parker, the Fulham manager, said that VAR is “killing” the excitement of football and at his own press conference, ahead of tomorrow’s clash with Southampton, Blades boss Wilder agreed with his counterpart from the capital.

"In a way, I do agree,” Wilder said.

"For us to have the decision go against us at Fulham was disappointing, we thought it should have been a penalty, and Scott has had his issues this season as much as we did last year and this.

"I agree with him.

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"A lot of the emotion has gone out of the game anyway with no crowds being allowed in, so that has affected everybody from the start, especially for the teams that need it. When David [McGoldrick] scored on Wednesday [against Aston Villa], I straight away turned to the monitor we have and usually, I know – as people have seen my antics at Bramall Lane when we score – I’m usually 30 yards down the touchline when we score.

"Now, first of all you think: ‘Is he offside?’ I imagine fans are the same watching on TV, and it’s taken away from the scorer and their teammates as well.

"Far too much has been talked about VAR in the last couple of years.”

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But Fifa president Gianni Infantino defended the technology today, insisting: "It is unimaginable to think of football without VAR”.

"VAR is giving and bringing more justice to the game, making the game more clean and helping referees in taking the correct decisions,” he said.

"If it is taking away joy from some it gives the joy to others [when a decision is changed in favour of their team].

"Everyone prefers to win a game based on the right decision of the referee.

"It is unimaginable to think of football without VAR."

Football Association chief executive Mark Bullingham said on the offside law: "Our role in football is to strive for continuous improvement."

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