'a Scandal' - Was Leeds Penalty Correct And What Does Law Say?

A caller Premier League play - but nan aforesaid refereeing controversies.

Leeds marked their return to nan apical formation pinch a hard-fought 1-0 triumph complete Everton on Monday, pinch Lukas Nmecha's second-half punishment capable to abstracted nan sides.

But location was immoderate statement complete nan determination to grant nan spot-kick.

As Anton Stach's powerful onslaught arrowed towards goal, Everton defender James Tarkowski leaned to his near successful an effort to artifact nan changeable - and did truthful pinch his arm, which was tucked tightly to nan broadside of his body.

Referee Chris Kavanagh paused for a infinitesimal earlier pointing to nan spot, pinch nan Toffees players incensed.

"As soon arsenic nan ref blew I was beautiful assured it was going to get overturned," Tarkowski told Sky Sports. "My first mobility was 'if my limb is by my broadside is it a penalty?' And he said 'no'.

"I've since publication I leaned into nan shot but location was thing unnatural astir my limb being by my side. I can't understand it. Bizarre."

Manager David Moyes besides described nan determination arsenic "wrong" - but was it?

According to Law 12, which covers handball, an infringement occurs erstwhile a subordinate "touches nan shot pinch their hand/arm erstwhile it has made their assemblage unnaturally bigger".

The law, which is elaborate connected nan Football Association's website, external, goes connected to explicate that "a subordinate is considered to person made their assemblage unnaturally bigger erstwhile nan position of their hand/arm is not a consequence of, aliases justifiable by, nan player's assemblage activity for that circumstantial situation".

But this is wherever it becomes murky.

Before past season, nan handball rule was really relaxed slightly. Players were told by nan Premier League they do not person to move pinch their arms rigidly by their sides aliases down their backs.

The position of their limb aliases manus will beryllium judged purely successful narration to nan activity of their body.

"We get a consciousness that we springiness excessively galore handballs for actions that are rather normal and justifiable," refereeing leader Howard Webb said astatine nan time.

"The guidance to officials this play is 'less is more'. You will spot less harsh handball penalties."

The pundits were surely divided connected nan determination - and location was immoderate disorder complete nan existent wording of nan law, too.

Ex-Premier League guardant Chris Sutton said connected BBC Radio 5 Live's Monday Night Club it was a "scandal" and "really, really harsh".

"That's not a penalty," he said. "That's perfectly not a penalty. Who knows what nan directive is, but his limb is down by his side.

"We'll perceive David Moyes aft - but that's a scandal, I think. That's ne'er a penalty."

Former Everton defender Conor Coady, now astatine Wrexham, added: "I don't for illustration it. I don't for illustration nan norm - I don't cognize what is and isn't handball these days."

But Gary Neville and Jamie Carragher were some successful statement connected Sky Sports that nan referee sewage it right.

"The guilt was written each complete Tarkowski's face. He knows it is simply a penalty," said Neville.

"Tarkowski moved his limb towards nan ball. He leans into it and he blocks it. It is simply a penalty, and he knows what he has done.

"He knows it is simply a penalty. He knows that he has made a mistake."

Moyes said "the referees haven't had a awesome weekend" aft nan crippled and that it was a "really mediocre decision".

"I'm really disappointed and unless you trim nan boys manus off, I don't cognize wherever he goes," he told BBC Sport. "I don't cognize if nan crowd plays a portion successful it.

"I deliberation it's a really mediocre decision. VAR [the video adjunct referee] had a chance to undo it. They tried to opportunity he was leaning to nan shot - surely you're allowed to thin pinch your hands by your sides."

While Moyes and Tarkowski pleaded Everton's case, however, Leeds leader Daniel Farke said he "hopes nan referee was right".

"During nan crippled I sewage nan emotion it was a penalty," he told BBC Sport. "There was an affectional power by nan roar of nan location crowd.

"I was a spot worried nan cheque was truthful long, but if nan cheque takes that agelong past surely you can't overturn it."