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Premier League assured that referees will take more lenient approach to handballs

Joel Ward of Crystal Palace reacts after the Premier League match between Crystal Palace and Everton at Selhurst Park - Chloe Knott - Danehouse/Getty Images
Joel Ward of Crystal Palace reacts after the Premier League match between Crystal Palace and Everton at Selhurst Park - Chloe Knott - Danehouse/Getty Images

Premier League clubs  have been told referees will show greater leniency on handballs from this weekend.

No formal vote took place at Tuesday's shareholders' meeting, but executives expressed support for the change after officials spoke to the  International Football Association Board (IFAB).

It emerged on Monday that the existing rule would be softened after the start of the new season was blighted by a string of controversial penalties. Following the conversation between the Professional Game Match Officials Board and IFAB, referees now have more subjectivity when a player touches the ball with his hand within his natural body shape.

The incident involving the Tottenham Hotspur defender Eric Dier on Sunday might still have stood. However, under the new guidance, the spot-kick Crystal Palace conceded against Everton most likely would not be given because Joel Ward’s arm was only slightly outstretched when the ball struck it and did not make his body “unnaturally bigger”, as defined in the laws.

A group of the Premier League’s most senior managers had been prepared to make a direct appeal to football’s governing bodies to overrule the handball law, which was changed to include the shoulder-height and body-shape offences last year.

English football implemented the amendment only this season after Fifa took over the running of the Video Assistant Referees system from the International Football Association Board, with the game’s governing body insisting the system had to be applied uniformly.