credit: The Rest Is Football

Max Wilkins

Fri 28 February 2025 12:00, UK

Gary Lineker and Alan Shearer have been left raging by Premier League rules after the Tottenham defeat to Manchester City.

Spurs fell to their first defeat in two against Pep Guardiola’s side with an Erling Haaland goal proving to be the difference between the two sides.

The Lilywhites did have their chances on the night but it is fair to say that the Citizens were good value for their victory.

Despite this, the three points didn’t come without controversy, which left Lineker and Shearer baffled.

Lineker and Shearer fuming with Haaland handball v Tottenham

City arguably should have taken the win by a larger margin when the Norway international tucked an effort into the bottom corner.

Referee Jarred Gillett ruled the goal out for handball after a tussle with Kevin Danso, much to the dismay of the 24-year-old forward.

Haaland was adjudged to have touched the ball with his arm in the build up to the goal which, as per the FA rules, means the official was right in his decision.

This left Lineker fuming on The Rest Is Football on 28 February, as he questioned the rules behind such a frustrating call.

He said: “[Haaland] was quite unlucky to not get another goal in the game. They looked at it about 400 times and the fact that the referee disallowed it on the pitch means they didn’t have any evidence to change that decision.

“That handball law is bonkers, isn’t it. If it just grazes your arm, they’ll give that and yet, if a defender has his arms by his side and it hits them in the penalty area, that’s not a penalty.

“How can one be a penalty and the other one not? The whole handball law is a farce.”

Shearer was in total agreement as he replied: “They’ve tied themselves up in knots with the handball law over the years.

“They’ve tried and tried and changed and changed and it’s just a mess. I don’t see any problem with saying ‘Is it deliberate handball or not?’ That is how to simplify it.”

Tottenham got away with one v Manchester City

There would have been very few complaints from Ange Postecoglou if City’s second was allowed to count given the controversial nature of the decision.

Ultimately, the ball bounced between Haaland and Danso and a handball call could have gone against either side.

Unfortunately for Guardiola, the laws are in favour of the defense as opposed to the forward and as a result, the correct call was made.

This would have represented a deserved second goal for the away side who had arguably had the better of the play for large spells in North London.

Pedro Porro struggled up against Jeremy Doku while Haaland caused issues all night and arguably could have scored more.

On another day, the Lilywhites lose by more and this controversy won’t be mentioned so much in the days after the full time whistle.