{"id":20118,"date":"2025-08-10T12:51:35","date_gmt":"2025-08-10T16:51:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/2025\/08\/10\/var-insights-unpacking-mac-allisters-decision-against-the-handball-penalty\/"},"modified":"2025-08-10T12:51:35","modified_gmt":"2025-08-10T16:51:35","slug":"var-insights-unpacking-mac-allisters-decision-against-the-handball-penalty","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/2025\/08\/10\/var-insights-unpacking-mac-allisters-decision-against-the-handball-penalty\/","title":{"rendered":"VAR Insights: Unpacking Mac Allister&#8217;s Decision Against the Handball Penalty"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_74 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/2025\/08\/10\/var-insights-unpacking-mac-allisters-decision-against-the-handball-penalty\/#Controversial_Penalty_Handball_by_Mac_Allister\" >Controversial Penalty: Handball by Mac Allister<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/2025\/08\/10\/var-insights-unpacking-mac-allisters-decision-against-the-handball-penalty\/#Handball_Penalties_Last_Season\" >Handball Penalties Last Season<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<div id=\"\">\n<p>Each week, video assistant referees (VAR) generate debate in British football\u2014how are calls made, and are they really accurate?<\/p>\n<p>On Sunday, the Community Shield match at Wembley saw Crystal Palace and Liverpool clash, reigniting these discussions.<\/p>\n<p>The match concluded with a draw of 2-2, but Palace triumphed in the penalty shootout, winning 3-2.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Controversial_Penalty_Handball_by_Mac_Allister\"><\/span>Controversial Penalty: Handball by Mac Allister<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><strong>Incident:<\/strong> In the 79th minute, a ball was played into the Liverpool box. Alexis Mac Allister attempted to intercept it but missed, resulting in the ball striking his raised arm and preventing it from reaching Ismaila Saar. Referee Chris Kabana dismissed the penalty claim, which was reviewed by VAR official Paul Tierney.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Outcome:<\/strong> No penalty was awarded.<\/p>\n<aside class=\"inline inline-photo full\">\n<figure>\n            <picture><source data-srcset=\"https:\/\/a4.espncdn.com\/combiner\/i?img=%2Fphoto%2F2025%2F0810%2Fr1530007_1296x729_16%2D9.jpg&amp;w=570&amp;format=jpg, https:\/\/a4.espncdn.com\/combiner\/i?img=%2Fphoto%2F2025%2F0810%2Fr1530007_1296x729_16%2D9.jpg&amp;w=1140&amp;cquality=40&amp;format=jpg 2x\" media=\"(min-width: 376px)\"><source data-srcset=\"https:\/\/a4.espncdn.com\/combiner\/i?img=%2Fphoto%2F2025%2F0810%2Fr1530007_1296x729_16%2D9.jpg&amp;w=375, https:\/\/a4.espncdn.com\/combiner\/i?img=%2Fphoto%2F2025%2F0810%2Fr1530007_1296x729_16%2D9.jpg&amp;w=750&amp;cquality=40&amp;format=jpg 2x\" media=\"(max-width: 375px)\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" class=\"lazyload lazyload\" data-image-container=\".inline-photo\" height=\"320\" width=\"570\"><\/source><\/source><\/picture><figcaption class=\"photoCaption\">The ball strikes Alexis Mac Allister&#8217;s arm in the penalty area. <cite>TNT Sports<\/cite><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/aside>\n<p><strong>VAR Review:<\/strong> Handball regulations have been contentious in recent seasons, but they have seen a more lenient application in the UK. Last season, only nine penalties were granted in the Premier League for handball, compared to higher figures in other top European leagues\u201416 in the Bundesliga and 28 in La Liga. In League One, handball penalties were more common.<\/p>\n<p>In the UK, VAR only intervenes if the player\u2019s arms are fully extended from their body or if there is a deliberate intent. An arm that inadvertently touches the ball or is in a natural position is less likely to be penalized.<\/p>\n<aside class=\"inline inline-table float-r\">\n<h2 class=\"table-caption\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Handball_Penalties_Last_Season\"><\/span>Handball Penalties Last Season<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<table cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\" data-text-contract=\"-\" data-text-expand=\"+\" data-fix-cols=\"0\" data-behavior=\"responsive_table\" class=\"inline-table\">\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<th><\/th>\n<th>League<\/th>\n<th>Penalties<\/th>\n<th>Frequency<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr class=\"last\">\n<td>Premier League<\/td>\n<td>380<\/td>\n<td>9<\/td>\n<td>42.22<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"last\">\n<td>Bundesliga<\/td>\n<td>306<\/td>\n<td>19<\/td>\n<td>16.11<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"last\">\n<td>La Liga<\/td>\n<td>380<\/td>\n<td>28<\/td>\n<td>13.57<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"last\">\n<td>Champions League<\/td>\n<td>188<\/td>\n<td>16<\/td>\n<td>11.75<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"last\">\n<td>Serie A<\/td>\n<td>380<\/td>\n<td>34<\/td>\n<td>11.18<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"last\">\n<td>League One<\/td>\n<td>306<\/td>\n<td>37<\/td>\n<td>8.27<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<tfoot>\n<tr>\n<td colspan=\"4\">Frequency is per game per penalty<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tfoot>\n<\/table>\n<\/aside>\n<p>Moreover, the player\u2019s body position during a play drastically influences these decisions. For instance, if Mac Allister&#8217;s arm had been in front of him while tracking the ball, there would have been a stronger argument for a penalty. His arm being raised behind his body, coupled with the ball hitting it by chance, diminishes the likelihood of a foul.<\/p>\n<p>There were similar incidents last season, such as during a game between Nottingham Forest and Wolverhampton Wanderers. In one example, Morgan Gibbs-White&#8217;s cross unintentionally hit Jorgen Strand Larsen&#8217;s arm, which was also ruled out for being accidental.<\/p>\n<aside class=\"inline inline-photo full\">\n<figure>\n            <picture><source data-srcset=\"https:\/\/a1.espncdn.com\/combiner\/i?img=%2Fphoto%2F2024%2F0902%2Fr1380992_1296x729_16%2D9.jpg&amp;w=570&amp;format=jpg, https:\/\/a1.espncdn.com\/combiner\/i?img=%2Fphoto%2F2024%2F0902%2Fr1380992_1296x729_16%2D9.jpg&amp;w=1140&amp;cquality=40&amp;format=jpg 2x\" media=\"(min-width: 376px)\"><source data-srcset=\"https:\/\/a1.espncdn.com\/combiner\/i?img=%2Fphoto%2F2024%2F0902%2Fr1380992_1296x729_16%2D9.jpg&amp;w=375, https:\/\/a1.espncdn.com\/combiner\/i?img=%2Fphoto%2F2024%2F0902%2Fr1380992_1296x729_16%2D9.jpg&amp;w=750&amp;cquality=40&amp;format=jpg 2x\" media=\"(max-width: 375px)\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" class=\"lazyload lazyload\" data-image-container=\".inline-photo\" height=\"320\" width=\"570\"><\/source><\/source><\/picture><figcaption class=\"photoCaption\">No penalty was awarded for Jorgen Strand Larsen. <cite>BBC<\/cite><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/aside>\n<p>In another instance, a free kick in the 75th minute led to the ball accidentally striking a Forest player\u2019s arm. Again, the call was deemed incidental due to the ball hitting from behind.<\/p>\n<aside class=\"inline inline-photo full\">\n<figure>\n            <picture><source data-srcset=\"https:\/\/a2.espncdn.com\/combiner\/i?img=%2Fphoto%2F2024%2F0902%2Fr1380993_1296x729_16%2D9.jpg&amp;w=570&amp;format=jpg, https:\/\/a2.espncdn.com\/combiner\/i?img=%2Fphoto%2F2024%2F0902%2Fr1380993_1296x729_16%2D9.jpg&amp;w=1140&amp;cquality=40&amp;format=jpg 2x\" media=\"(min-width: 376px)\"><source data-srcset=\"https:\/\/a2.espncdn.com\/combiner\/i?img=%2Fphoto%2F2024%2F0902%2Fr1380993_1296x729_16%2D9.jpg&amp;w=375, https:\/\/a2.espncdn.com\/combiner\/i?img=%2Fphoto%2F2024%2F0902%2Fr1380993_1296x729_16%2D9.jpg&amp;w=750&amp;cquality=40&amp;format=jpg 2x\" media=\"(max-width: 375px)\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" class=\"lazyload lazyload\" data-image-container=\".inline-photo\" height=\"320\" width=\"570\"><\/source><\/source><\/picture><figcaption class=\"photoCaption\">The ball made contact with Chris Wood&#8217;s arm, but he seemed unaware. <cite>BBC<\/cite><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/aside>\n<p>The debate remains regarding Mac Allister\u2019s intentions. Did he elevate his arm to intercept the ball, or was his arm naturally positioned based on his movement?<\/p>\n<p>VAR decisions are often inconsistent in the UK, but it\u2019s possible a penalty could have been awarded had the referee opted for one on the field.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><strong>Fan Take:<\/strong> The ongoing VAR debates highlight a crucial aspect of the game: the rules can significantly impact outcomes. For soccer fans, the precision of officiating is vital, and inconsistencies can lead to frustration, ultimately shaping the integrity of competitions.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Each week, video assistant referees (VAR) generate debate in British football\u2014how are calls made, and are they really accurate? On Sunday, the Community Shield match at Wembley saw Crystal Palace and Liverpool clash, reigniting these discussions. The match concluded with a draw of 2-2, but Palace triumphed in the penalty shootout, winning 3-2. Controversial Penalty: [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":20119,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[15],"tags":[5549,1455,40,5550,1197,5548,46,121,45,1365,1677],"class_list":{"0":"post-20118","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-football","8":"tag-allisters","9":"tag-decision","10":"tag-football","11":"tag-handball","12":"tag-insights","13":"tag-mac","14":"tag-news","15":"tag-penalty","16":"tag-soccer","17":"tag-unpacking","18":"tag-var"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/20118","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=20118"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/20118\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/20119"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=20118"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=20118"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=20118"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}