Of controversies, warns former top referee
position, your arms have got to go somewhere!
“It’s nigh-on impossible to run with your arms behind your back. So if the ball then strikes a defender on the hand, the referee has a big call to make.
“I had a radio debate earlier in the year with Michael Stewart when he was giving me a lecture on bio-mechanics!
“I can see more of that kind of discussion ahead, about whether a player could help it or not. There’s going to be an awful lot of controversy and analysis.”
Clark also believes the increased use of VAR will also place a greater focus on handball decisions.
Scotland defender Nicola Docherty was punished by the video referee in last Sunday’s World Cup match against England when a cross accidentally struck her on the arm.
Clark said: “Nobody was claiming for anything in that incident. And then everyone was totally flummoxed when it got called back by VAR for a penalty.
“That’s going to happen a lot in future.
“VAR is being brought into the Premier League in England, and also the Europa League as well as the Champions League.
“So incidents that might have been let slide before will be placed under the microscope in those competitions using VAR.” The new laws also mean that a goal cannot be awarded if there has been a handball – even if accidental – in the build-up.
But Clark thinks that is also likely to be open to interpretation.
He added: “If the ball goes into the net off an attacking player’s hand or arm, or if it hits their arm and then they create a goalscoring opportunity, then a free-kick is awarded, whether it was completely accidental or not.
“The possible controversy out of that is how far back do we trace the point of creating a goalscoring opportunity?
“I can see that being open to interpretation, and it may give rise to some difficulties as at the other end of the pitch if the arm is in a natural position when the ball strikes it, then it won’t be penalised.
“People will need to get their head around those differences.”