Ian Holloway Somehow Thinks The New Handball Rule Is Connected To Brexit

Ian Holloway bizarrely blamed the EU for the new handball rule that controversially denied Manchester City a win against Tottenham Hotspurs in the Premier League at the weekend.

Saturday evening's Premier League game saw the first use of the new rule that means that any use of the arm in the scoring of, or lead up to, a goal, even accidental, will mean the goal is ruled out.

City thought they'd scored a winner in injury time but VAR showed the ball had hit Aymeric Laporte's arm on the way through to Gabriel Jesus. Holloway wasn't having the new rule and, speaking on Sky Sports' 'The Debate,' decided the EU was to blame for 'telling us how to do our own game.'

The former QPR manager couldn't have been much further from the truth though, with England and Britain having a big impact on the new rule.

Lawmakers the International Football Association Board (IFAB) are made up of eight representatives, four coming from England, N Ireland, Scotland, Wales and four from FIFA and former Premier League referee David Elleray is technical director of the board.

On top of all of that the rule was first discussed after Wolves scored in their home game with City in the league last season.

Willy Boly opened the scoring in the game in August last year when he went to head the ball from a cross but the ball narrowly missed his head and hit his hand on the way to score.

As it was accidental contact with the arm it wasn't disallowed but it shone further light on an issue that had also been discussed because of Laurent Koscielny's goal against Burnley for Arsenal in 2016.

Koscielny's goal was an injury time winner and came off his hand. Image: PA Images

It's not the first time this year an English manager has weirdly decided to bring up Britain leaving the EU.

In January Neil Warnock blamed his struggles in the transfer market on the lack of movement on Brexit saying, "I think once the country knows what they're doing, it will be straightforward [to make signings] ... Any transfer window is difficult for me, not just this one.

"...I can't wait to get out of it, if I'm honest. I think we'll be far better out of the bloody thing. In every aspect. Football-wise as well, absolutely. To hell with the rest of the world."

Transfers, handballs and straight bananas, the EU has a lot to answer for.

Topics: Gabriel Jesus, Manchester City, Spurs, Lucas Moura, Football News, Handball, Premier League, Aymeric Laporte, VAR

Ryan Sidle

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