New handball rule means Llorente’s goal would NOT have stood from next season after Spurs and Man City controversy
FERNANDO LLORENTE’S crucial goal for Tottenham in their Champions League triumph against Manchester City would NOT have stood next season.
The striker, on as a first-half substitute after Moussa Sissoko came off injured, bundled the ball home off his hip to score Spurs’ third goal at the Etihad.
But it also brushed his arm on the way to beating Ederson in the goal, which led to the referee Cuneyt Cakir calling for VAR.
But the man watching the screens, Italian Massimiliano Irrati CORRECTLY awarded the goal as it was clearly not an intentional handball.
And what a crucial goal it turned out to be.
Although Spurs were now 4-3 down on the night, they won the first leg 1-0 at home so Llorente’s goal saw Mauricio Pochettino‘s troops go through on away goals.
But next season, after changes by the International FA Board were passed, the goal would have been chalked off.
It is cruel but it is what it is and we have to accept it
Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola
It will now state that goals cannot stand if the ball touches a hand or arm even if it was not intended.
Technical director at Ifab and former Premier League referee David Ellery previously said: “If a player controls the ball with hand or arm and then scores or creates a goalscoring opportunity that will be ruled as handball even if it is clearly accidental.
“It is taking away the requirement of the referee to determine intent.”
Despite the laws currently on ruling it out on intentional handball, City boss Pep Guardiola was still left wondering whether his side had been dealt a harsh blow.
Speaking after the game, the 48-year-old Spaniard said: “It is cruel but it is what it is and we have to accept it. After 20 minutes we were 3-2 up.
“In the second half we created a lot of chances and we scored the goals we needed.
“Unfortunately, it was a bad end to us so congratulations to Tottenham and good luck for the semi-finals.
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“I support VAR but maybe from one angle Fernando Llorente’s goal is handball, maybe from the referee’s angle it is not.”
Guardiola would later go on to rue another VAR decision when Raheem Sterling scored what he thought was the winning goal, only for technology to correctly rule him offisde.
It means Spurs will go on to face Ajax in the Champions League semi-finals, while City are left to concentrate on beating Liverpool to the Premier League title.
