Former Newcastle United and England striker Alan Shearer has hit out at the rules concerning handball incidents in the Premier League following Chelsea's goalless draw with Manchester United at Stamford Bridge yesterday afternoon.
In a contest that will not live long in the memory for most, the biggest talking point came in the first half when United thought they were going to be awarded a penalty by referee Stuart Attwell for a handball against Chelsea wing-back Callum Hudson-Odoi.
Marcus Rashford hit a free-kick from distance which drew a save from Edouard Mendy in the Blues goal before the ball hit the hand of Hudson-Odoi as he wrestled with Mason Greenwood to win possession.
The ball brushed Hudson-Odoi's hand and referee Attwell was recommended to check the pitchside monitor to see if a spot-kick should have been awarded. After taking a close look, the experienced Premier League whistle blower decided against awarding the visitors a penalty, despite it appearing as though Hudson-Odoi moved his hand towards the ball.
Earlier this season it would have been awarded as a spot-kick, with the rules on handball situations continuing to change.
And the mid-season changes has sparked a pouring of outrage from Match of the Day pundit Shearer, who blasted the system for its constant tweaks, insisting it is making the referees act as though they "haven't got a clue."
"I don’t want to see it given as handball but when you look at the laws... look at the Chelsea players, they’re appealing for handball but it hits Callum Hudson-Odoi’s arm," Shearer told BBC Sport.
"Under the laws, that should be a penalty. I don’t think it should be but because of the laws. Now there is much confusion, the referees are confused, they haven’t got a clue what is right and wrong.
"It’s been tweaked, it’s been changed mid-season to accommodate it. Whether the hand's high, whether it’s natural, unnatural, you’ve got sleeves, the inconsistencies every single week.
"I was at Southampton vs Wolves and the ball was smashed from two yards, 100mph, hits his arm, penalty, but there was nothing he could do.
"Twenty minutes later, the defender’s arm is out from 20 yards, doesn’t give a penalty. Last week, West Brom vs Burnley, that wasn’t given. There’s so much confusion around this law it’s incredible, the referees haven’t got a clue.
"It’s not critical of referees at all, it’s critical of the system, what they’re told to do. One thing it’s this, then it changes game to game. The law shouldn’t be tweaked mid-season.
"They’re confused, they don’t know what to give. It’s like a rabbit in the headlights, they don’t know if they’re coming or going. We were told a few years ago they wouldn’t re-referee games, maximum benefit, minimum intervention.
"Clear and obvious for the howlers, none of that has happened. The referees are worse now than four or five years ago. It’s so confusing."
