EXCLUSIVE: UEFA chiefs hold talks about introducing more lenient handball rules in the Champions League after Newcastle became the latest side outraged by harsh penalty decisions in Europe

• UEFA could tone down their interpretation of handball laws going forward 
• Champions League sides have fumed about harsh penalties given this season 
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UEFA have held talks about following the Premier League’s less strict interpretation of the handball law in an attempt to reduce the award of harsh penalties such as that which denied Newcastle victory over Paris Saint Germain. 

There have been almost four times as many penalties given per-game in the Champions League as the Premier League since the start of last season, which has led UEFA’s Referees Committee to consider changing their guidance to officials from next season.

UEFA attributed the unjust award of Kylian Mbappe’s injury-time penalty at the Parc des Princes to an error by VAR Tomasz Kwiatkowski, who was stood down from VAR duties at Wednesday night’s Champions League tie between Real Sociedad and Red Bull Salzburg as a consequence, but were already exploring ways of reducing the spot-kick disparity. 

While the laws of the game are determined by the International FA Board [IFAB] their implementation affords a degree of interpretation, with UEFA insisting on a strict approach to the hand-ball law.

Premier League referees have been instructed to take several mitigating factors into account when adjudicating handballs, such as the proximity of the player’ arm to their body and whether the arm is in a natural position. 

UEFA are in talks to bring in more lenient handball rules after Newcastle became the latest side outraged over harsh penalty decisions. Pictured: Tino Livramento is punished against PSG

Man United were fuming this month when Harry Maguire was harshly adjudged to have handled in the area

Referee Szymon Marciniak was only shown a single angle of the incident at PSG vs Newcastle

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Numerous refereeing sources have told Mail Sport that Tino Livramento would never have been penalised for handball in the Premier League.

UEFA reached a similar conclusion after the game by punishing Kwiatkowski, who has been blamed for only showing referee Szymon Marciniak a single angle of the incident – from the side and in slow motion – on his monitor. 

Marciniak had final say as referee and has been criticised for not asking for alternative angles, but as he was not scheduled to officiate at a Champions League game last night he escaped punishment.

The penalty award also appeared to contradict guidance given last year to referees by UEFA’s Football Board, who stated: ‘UEFA should clarify that no handball offence should be called on a player if the ball is previously deflected from his own body and, in particular, when the ball does not go towards the goal.’

The Referees Committee chaired by former Italian official Roberto Rosetti will discuss whether stricter clarification is needed in the coming months before taking their decision to UEFA’s Football Board next April.

UEFA declined to comment.

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