Well said VAR apply the rules of the game and they have no discretion to waive any rule which is how it should be, it's strange how VAR is always correct when it goes your way and incorrect when it does not!

I think that's aimed at me.
To clarify, I don't think we will lose our next 11 games, maybe I should have emphasized the IF a bit more.
We are quite capable of keeping up the 1.26 PPG that we are currently achieving, which would leave us at the end of the season on 47 points.
The point I made was purely we are not quite there yet

Edited by si_1967 (05 Mar 2021 10.33am)

... what

The goal was scored directly from the handball and the rules state it doesn't matter whether it was accidental or not. If the handball is accidental but does not lead directly to a goal-scoring chance then I believe it is fine. It's tough on Fulham but the rules were applied correctly.

It's amazing watching Fulham though as they look like a top 10 side at the moment the way they are playing. With Newcastle's injury woes and Brighton's goal-scoring problems they probably fancy themselves to have a good chance of beating the drop, even if it is with a team of other club's players

The problem started when the emphasis started to be put on the professional foul.
Coaching always taught you to spread yourself in a defensive position , as if you didn’t actual put hand to ball, and instead just let the it hit you ,there was no offence if hit the hand. You could say by spreading ,the intent is to handle the ball . And that’s what the rules now try to stop. The problem is in the heat of the game a lot of arm movement is involuntary. It’s a pity refs can’t work it out for them selfs , as a genuine body spread is so easy to detect in the majority of cases. The not sure ones should just be written off there and then.
Go back to hand to ball would solve it. Both ends of the pitch.
The ruling for forward play only seems to be some sort of balance , for the rules for defenders.

Edited by Putitout (05 Mar 2021 12.08pm)

But has it made things easier for the refs?. When so often only after intense scrutiny applied after stopping the game for minutes , does a decision get made as to whether the ball has actually hit an arm, let alone if that had occurred by intent. The way this rule fails to discriminate intention, makes one wonder if all players outside of the goalkeepers , should have their arms tied down, before entering the pitch. That might be extreme, but as it is your arms are nothing short of a liability according to so many of the decisions I see, in both defence and at times attack.
Regardless, we shouldn’t have to worry that the handball rules will get us relegated . I hope.

Edited by Putitout (05 Mar 2021 1.22pm)

I think Fulham will survive, hopefully BHA continue to play pretty but ineffective football. I think NFC with their 3 main players sidelined and the vitriol for Bruce may just send them down. FFC v NFC last game of the season.