Going into this afternoon's game against Manchester City, Sheffield United knew they were going to have to avoid giving away any cheap goals if they were to get a surprise result.
They played well in the opening half, largely keeping Erling Haaland quiet and giving away few chances of note.
However, they would concede a penalty just after the half hour mark after the ball struck the arm Ireland defender John Egan inside the box. It seemed like a slightly harsh decision, with the Cork native sliding to block a cross before the ball was struck at him from a short distance away.
Debate: Penalty or no penalty? pic.twitter.com/nHkARfZQBy
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It was a borderline call.
Luckily for Sheffield United, Haaland would go on to miss the resulting spot kick.
ERLING HAALAND MISSES FROM THE PENALTY SPOT! 🤯 pic.twitter.com/NOt68mK3TR
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With the handball rule a constant source of debate, this decision was always going to split opinion.
Sky Sports pundits clash over penalty given against Ireland defender
It was said recently that officials were going to give a bit of leeway for players who were struck with the ball on their hand from close range, something that is especially true when they were making a sliding tackle. However, that was not the case on this occasion.
This caused quite a bit of debate on Sky Sports at halftime. Jamie Carragher thought it was a penalty, even if he felt for John Egan. Andros Townsend disagreed that it was a foul, while Shay Given admitted that he is not in favour of this rule as a whole.
The Super Sunday panel DEBATE if Manchester City should have received a penalty... 👀😳 pic.twitter.com/FjGRKv97m1
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Carragher: I still think it was a penalty. He made his silhouette bigger and it has stopped the ball going to Erling Haaland, who would have had a brilliant chance.
As a defender, I feel for Egan. I have been there so many times, where are you supposed to put your arms? But his arm is outstretched and stops it going right to Haaland...
Townsend: I don't think he does (make his silhouette bigger). He goes to slide, and when you go to slide, you can't do it with your arms at your side. Letter of the law, it does hit his hand.
Carragher: So that means it is a penalty?
Townsend: No, because close proximity to the ball as well. Every year they come and speak for an hour on rules and regulations, they say they're going to take into account proximity to the ball. That's a couple of yards, what can he do?
Carragher: As a defender I've been there, but when you see the ball going to Haaland.
Given: Look at Egan's reaction as well. He knows it hit his hand, so he knows he has given the referee a choice to make.
Townsend: Do you want him to defend with his arm behind his back?
Given: I'm not saying it's right, I don't agree with the law or whatever it is, they change it every week. His arms have to be somewhere.
The amount of penalties resulting from handballs have gone through the roof since the introduction of VAR, with video replays allowing officials to detect them with far more frequency.
However, some have suggested that the rule around such incidents needs to be changed as a result, with slow motion replays often making such incidents look far more egregious than they actually were.
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