Pundit Jamie Carragher has told Sky Sports that he felt the penalty decision given against Tottenham Hotspur today was an ‘absolute disgrace’.
Spurs hosted Newcastle United this afternoon, and were dominant throughout as the Magpies struggled to lay a glove on Spurs.
Lucas Moura put Spurs in front in the first half, but without Son Heung-min in the side in the second half, Tottenham failed to kill the game off.
They were made to pay late in the day as Callum Wilson rescued a point for Newcastle with a last-gasp penalty, but the decision itself was controversial.
A long ball into the box was nodded on by Andy Carroll, and the ball struck Eric Dier on the back of the arm as the went up for the aerial battle.
After a VAR check, a penalty was given to Newcastle, with the new handball rules implemented to Tottenham’s detriment in this instance.
Spurs goalkeeping coach Nuno Santos was sent off after the final whistle for his complaints, and pundit Carragher was furious during coverage of the game.
Carragher branded the decision an ‘absolute joke’ and a ‘disgrace’, believing that the handball rule needs to be changed ‘now’ because there is only more trouble on the horizon if this rule stays.
“It’s an absolute disgrace. An absolute joke,” said Carragher. “Newcastle fans will be ecstatic, I can understand that but everyone else in this country will say exactly what I’m saying. Eric Dier jumps for the ball, has no control of where his arms are going to be, it was a header half a yard away from him, hits him on the back of his arm, he has no idea what’s going on. This is a joke.”
“Whether it’s the Premier League, the FA, FIFA, Pierluigi Collina, whoever is involved in this, stop it, because you’re ruining football for everybody. Absolute joke. You’ve got more trouble on your hands Premier League, FIFA, UEFA, whoever is involved. Change this now!” he added.
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