Referees get new call to arms! The tweaks to the handball law seen for the first time at Euro 2020

There are several law changes which fans will see for the first time at the Euros but the tweaks to the handball law are the most interesting.

The first concerns the element whereby it is an offence if a player touches the ball with his hand or arm when it has made their body unnaturally bigger. 

The new directive, which we’ll see in the Premier League next season, is that referees should use their judgment in determining the validity of the position of the hand or arm in relation to the player’s movement in a specific situation.

We saw an example of that in the between Italy and Turkey on Friday. 

The Italians were convinced they should have had a penalty when the ball hit Mehmet Celik’s arm, which was extended, but referee Danny Makkelie took into account where the Turkish player’s arm should have been.

The other change is that accidental handball that leads to a team-mate scoring will no longer be considered an offence. 

The Robert Snodgrass ‘goal’ for West Ham against Sheffield United last year, ruled out because Declan Rice had accidentally handled in the build-up, would now stand.

We have a team of seven officials at the Euros, headed by referees Michael Oliver and Anthony Taylor. 

They can control a game, the players trust them and with their calmness and composure they will do a cracking job.