“VAR and Handball: Time to Rethink the Rules”

**VAR – It’s Time to Reevaluate the Penalties** This week’s Champions League matches highlighted a troubling trend: players being penalized for having their arms in natural positions while moving. It’s becoming increasingly difficult to understand what constitutes a handball anymore. Initially, I intended to kick off this column with one of my three go-to anecdotes. Not the one about the microwave or the six-pound peach, but the one where I passionately expressed my disdain for the Lord of the Rings films on TalkSport, to the point that my boss texted me to ask why I wasn’t as animated about football. So, it was a bit disheartening when my editor pointed out that I had already shared that same story just two weeks prior—literally in my last column! There’s nothing quite like calling out repetition while inadvertently falling into the same trap myself. If I were cleverer, I might claim it was intentional. As we continue to navigate the complexities of VAR and its impact on the game, it’s clear that the current handball rules need a serious reassessment. The inconsistencies and confusion surrounding these decisions are detracting from the enjoyment of football. It’s time for a change.