Premier League should update little-known rule after the ‘accidental’ Harry Maguire handball mix-up
Harry Maguire even said Manchester United got “a bit of luck” after their third goal against Ipswich Town was allowed to stand. “It definitely wasn’t a handball on purpose,” he said.
That moment was the most talked-about part of Sunday’s game at Old Trafford. Just before Ipswich’s Jacob Greaves accidentally scored an own goal, Maguire looked like he handled the ball before driving forward and taking a shot. His shot didn’t go in, but Greaves’ own goal followed right after.
Greaves glanced back and saw his Ipswich teammates appealing for a handball because of Maguire’s touch. After a quick review by VAR official Jarred Gillett and referee Craig Pawson, they decided the handball was accidental. The decision stirred up a lot of debate.
But actually, Gillett and Pawson were following a lesser-known rule. This rule says that if the handball doesn’t directly lead to a goal—like if a teammate scores or a defender causes an own goal—the goal still counts.
To put it simply, Premier League rules say that if an attacker accidentally handles the ball before an opponent accidentally puts it in their own net, the own goal stands.
On Sunday, the Premier League confirmed this in their Match Centre: “The referee’s call of goal for Manchester United was checked and confirmed by VAR – with it deemed that Maguire was not the immediate goalscorer after an accidental handball.”
They also shared VAR Jarred Gillett’s thoughts on the incident. He told referee Craig Pawson, “It’s an own goal and the accidental handball is not punishable, so we recommend you award the goal.”
This rule came in for the 2021-22 Premier League season, but it’s a bit confusing. If Maguire’s shot had gone in, the goal would’ve been disallowed. So why should an opponent’s accidental touch make a difference? It feels odd that if your shot misses but causes an own goal, the goal counts.
Also, whether Maguire’s handball was really accidental is up for debate. He raised his hand toward his chest, which clearly changed the ball’s direction.
On Sunday night, Match of the Day experts Shay Given and Ellen White shared their views. Given said, “It’s a clear handball. His hands aren’t in a natural position. It’s deliberate.” White added, “It looks like he’s protecting his face, but it still feels like a deliberate handball.”
Even Michael Carrick admitted Ipswich had a right to feel unhappy: “There are two sides to this. I get why they’re disappointed. We just took advantage of it.”
After the match, Ipswich manager Neil O’Neil called the rule “complicated” and said Ipswich’s luck just didn’t go their way. “To beat Manchester United at Old Trafford, you need a bit of luck, and we didn’t get it,” he said. “Sometimes rules or deflections don’t go your way, and there’s stuff in games you can’t control.
“The handball rule is tough for referees—handball if it’s the goalscorer, but not if it’s a deflection heading off target.”
“But no worries,” O’Neil added. “I’m not here to complain about the refs. Lots of teams leave Old Trafford without points, but we leave knowing where to improve.”