The controversial handball rule that hit Spurs hard and is now set to come into Premier League

Major rule changes are set to come into force in the Premier League next season and arguably the biggest surrounds handball incidents.

Already enforced in the UEFA Champions League, the handball regulations have become a significant talking point after the last-minute penalty Manchester United earned in the quarter-finals against Paris Saint-Germain.

The handball rules then took centre stage once again in the final between Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur, when Spurs midfielder Moussa Sissoko conceded a penalty in the opening minute that Mohamed Salah tucked home.

Mauricio Pochettino talks to Slovenian referee Damir Skomina after Moussa Sissoko gives away a penalty to Liverpool. (BEN STANSALL/AFP/Getty Images)

With Video Assistant Referees (VAR) set to be introduced into the Premier League, it is likely further contentious decisions will follow that will not sit well with supporters - so in order to clear up any confusion.

Crucially, the big change is that a handball does not have to be seen as deliberate and a handball will be awarded if the arm is moved to make the body bigger or is seen as an ‘unnatural position'.

The full explanation can be found below.

Handball

Deliberate handball remains an offence

The following ‘handball’ situations, even if accidental, will be a free kick:

• The ball goes into the goal after touching an attacking player’s hand/arm.
• A player gains control/possession of the ball after it has touches their hand/arm and then scores, or creates a goal-scoring opportunity.
• The ball touches a player’s hand/arm which has made their body unnaturally bigger.
• The ball touches a player’s hand/arm when it is above their shoulder (unless the player has deliberately played the ball which then touches their hand/arm).

The following will not usually be a free kick, unless they are one of the above situations:

• The ball touches a player’s hand/arm directly from their own head/body/foot or the head/body/foot of another player who is close/near.
• The ball touches a player’s hand/arm which is close to their body and has not made their body unnaturally bigger.
• If a player is falling and the ball touches their hand/arm when it is between their body and the ground to support the body (but not extended to make the body bigger).
• If the goalkeeper attempts to ‘clear’ (release into play) a throw-in or deliberate kick. from a team-mate but the ‘clearance’ fails, the goalkeeper can then handle the ball.

Keep up to date with the latest news, features and exclusives from  football.london   via the free  football.london app   for   iPhone and Android .

Available to download from the App Store and Google Play .