Glenn Hoddle rages at ‘Ridiculous’ rule after what he saw in Tottenham v Rangers
Glenn Hoddle hit out at the “ridiculous” backpass rule after an incident that happened in the Rangers versus Tottenham clash at Ibrox.
Jefte intercepted a pass and helped it back to goalkeeper Jack Butland, who was able to gather as it was not an intentional pass.
The incident occurred during the first half of Thursday’s (12 December) Europa League tie in Glasgow.
Speaking live on TNT Sports [12 December, 8:22pm], Hoddle said: “That’s the strange thing about that rule. If you mishit the pass back, the goalkeeper can pick it up. It’s ridiculous.”
Backpass rule needs changing
Hoddle has a point. A pass back to the goalkeeper, rather intentional or otherwise, should be deemed an offence.
A player mishitting a pass back to the goalkeeper under pressure is somehow allowed, despite it clearly being a backpass.
On this particular occasion, the Rangers player was able to halt a Tottenham attack. An indirect free-kick should have been the outcome.
That happened during a lively, albeit goalless, opening 45 minutes at Ibrox in which the hosts edged things.
Tottenham, as expected, were given very little time to breathe on the ball and that is something Ange Postecoglou needs to find a workaround for.
As for the backpass law, the sooner that is updated the better.
In other Tottenham news, Howard Webb has reacted to controversial Spurs footage.
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