Former referee Dermot Gallagher has claimed that referees are "hamstrung" by the rules following the handball given against Joel Ward in Crystal Palace's defeat to Everton.
The defender was the subject of two VAR checks for handball in the match, with one being given as a penalty by on-field referee Kevin Friend.
The rules have been roundly criticised in the opening weeks of the Premier League season, with Palace benefiting from a similar decision against Manchester United the week before.
Palace manager Roy Hodgson has said the laws - changed this season to bring the Premier League in line with the rest of the footballing world - are "a nonsense", and are "killing the game".
Former referee Gallagher says that referees are victims in the situation, forced to implement the rules whether they like them or not.
"Ward has clearly got his arms tucked into his side when Richarlison's strike hits him," Gallagher told Sky Sports about the first VAR decision.
"He couldn't get his arm in any closer. It's almost behind his back which, as a defender, it's not the ideal position to be in. But he clearly wanted to get his arm out of the way, there's no doubt about that.
"The second one is a little bit different. His arm is slightly extended and this is where I feel for the referees.
"I use the word victim, which sounds very powerful, but they have to impose this law whether they like it or not.
"I say like it or not because I go back to when I was a referee and there were certain things I didn't like, and I'm sure many of the referees, if not all of them don't like this thing that if the arm is slightly extended, it's going to be a penalty.
"But, as a referee, the unfortunate thing is you cannot pick and choose which laws you apply. You have to apply them across the board.
"When Kevin Friend sees that image on the monitor, the arm is away from the body and that's what they are told.
"Is the arm above the shoulder? No. Is the arm extended away from the body? Everybody will say that's his balance position and I accept that, but that's how the law is constructed. That's where the referees are hamstrung because that's what the law says and they have to follow it."
