Ex-ref Mike Dean insists new penalty directive is not in Premier League rules
Mike Dean has questioned an apparent new handball directive which helped Luton and hurt Wolves on Saturday.
Gary O'Neil's side were reduced to 10 men in the first half at Kenilworth Road when Jean-Ricner Bellegarde was shown a straight red card. They still went in front through Pedro Neto, though, only for Carlton Morris' penalty 25 minutes from time to deny them all three points.
There was plenty of debate around the penalty, which was awarded when the ball struck the raised arm of Joao Gomes. The ball deflected onto the Wolves midfielder's arm after striking his leg, though, and debate has raged over whether the deflection means the penalty decision should have been overturned.
Former referee Dean weighed in on the big refereeing decisions of the weekend during an appearance on Sky Sports' Soccer Saturday. Making reference to the deflection itself, he cast doubt on the call.
"I didn't think it was [a penalty]," Dean said. "Gary [O'Neil] has had a conversation with the fourth official and judging what he said, because his hand is so high, it negates the deflection. It hits him on his knee and maybe his chest first. I am surprised it wasn't overturned.
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"I don't get it. If that is the case then clubs should have been told at the start of the season and judging what Gary O'Neil said, they weren't. If it hits his hand directly then it is a penalty but I don't care what they say, I don't think it is a penalty.
"There will be so many more penalties given if that is the case. It isn't written down at the moment but that is what the referees are saying."
Should the penalty decision have been overturned? Have your say in the comments section
Carlton Morris' penalty earned Luton a point against Wolves (Getty Images)According to the Laws of the Game, "Not every touch of a player’s hand/arm with the ball is an offence". A deliberate handling of the ball can be penalised, though, as can instances where a player has made their body bigger with the position of their hands.
"It is an offence if a player... touches the ball with their hand/arm when it has made their body unnaturally bigger," the 'Fouls and Misconduct' section of the rules reads. "A player is considered to have made their body unnaturally bigger when the position of their hand/arm is not a consequence of, or justifiable by, the player’s body movement for that specific situation.
"By having their hand/arm in such a position, the player takes a risk of their hand/arm being hit by the ball and being penalised," it continues. However, the issue surrounds the fact that the ball deflected onto Gomes' arm rather than hitting it directly.
Gary O'Neil made his feelings clear (Shaun Brooks/Action Plus/REX/Shutterstock)“It’s never, ever, ever a penalty," O'Neil argued after his team's draw. "If that’s a penalty, there’s something badly wrong with the rules.
"I’ve read them as well, mitigating circumstances are if it hits another body part and there’s a clear change of trajectory to the ball, it’s not a penalty. That’s done, from that moment the excuse they’re using of his hand being unnaturally high, if the ball hits directly I get it, but the fact it’s hit his leg and possibly his chest and hand means there’s nothing else to discuss.
“It’s hit his leg so there’s no way he can be in control of what happens from that moment. I honestly don’t understand it, I think it’s a terrible decision, I think the fact he wasn’t even sent to the screen is terrible, but I’m getting used to it."
It wasn't the first moment of controversy to impact Wolves this season. They were denied a late penalty against Manchester United in their season opener when opposition keeper Andre Onana clattered into Sasa Kalajdzic, with the United man admitting he was fortunate to avoid giving away a spot-kick.
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“This season we’ve suffered some tough ones so I’m disappointed with the official, but it’s not my job and hopefully somebody else can fix it," O'Neil added. "I stand there and try to be polite to the officials and have a sensible conversation, and while the check is going on, you hope they reach a sensible conclusion.
"It goes against everything you think and everything you’ve been sent rules wise. From that point, it’s hard to stay calm, but let’s focus on the lads because it could be a big point for us, ten men for that long.”
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