The handball law in football often causes controversy. Even in the era of VAR, spotting an infringement is very rarely a simple call to make. Making things more complicated, the rule is applied differently in the Champions League and the Premier League.
In Europe, penalties for handballs seem to be given far more frequently. This sense is backed up statistically, with The Athletic reporting in March 2026 that more than twice as many penalties are given for handball offences in the Champions League as in the Premier League.
This is because UEFA have a different interpretation of the rule than the PGMOL. However, that could change in the near future.
Alphonso Davies Handball Penalty vs PSG Sparks Controversy
The harsher application of the law was seen in full evidence last night, during the thrilling Champions League clash between Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern Munich. The first leg of the semi-final was poised at 2-2 going into half-time at the Parc des Princes when the controversy occurred.
Ousmane Dembele's cross did hit the arm of Alphonso Davies. That said, the cross came in from a short range, and appeared to deflect off the Bayern star's leg before bouncing onto his arm. Even so, VAR intervened to send the referee to the pitchside monitor, and a penalty was given.
Pundit Alan Shearer raged: "It deflects on to his arm, and that, for me, is not a penalty." In the Premier League, things would be different, but retired referee Mark Clattenburg explained: "We've seen it, in recent seasons of Champions League football, a really high tolerance to handball." Although he added, "It's very very subjective."
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UEFA's Head of Referees Wants Handball Law Interpretation Changed in England
Manchester City's Rodri
Premier League - Everton v Manchester City - Goodison Park, Liverpool, Britain - February 26, 2022 Manchester City's Rodri in action before a VAR review does not award a penalty for handball Action Images via Reuters/Jason Cairnduff
Thanks to the PGMOL's interpretation, the ball striking a hand or arm does not automatically bring a penalty unless deemed deliberate. As such, it's unlikely that this would have been a penalty in England, but that could change next season. Indeed, rules expert Dale Johnson has explained that Roberto Rosetti, UEFA's head of referees, wants the law applied evenly across all competitions next season.
As well as confirming that the referee technically got the PSG penalty call right due to 'the movement of the arm', Johnson stated:
"After tonight's handball penalty... A reminder that Roberto Rosetti, UEFA's head of referees, wants there to be a universal application of handball across Europe next season.
"This isn't going to fly in England. We've tried it once and it lasted a whole three weeks."
As the Premier League’s interpretation is effectively shaped by its stakeholders, with clubs asked to give feedback to PGMOL, a more lenient approach has been seen in England. This came after a series of subjective handball decisions sparked controversy – as Johnson alludes to. But things are much stricter in the Champions League, as well as in La Liga and Serie A.
As mentioned, UEFA chief Rosetti wants all referees to be aligned. Speaking in early 2026, he detailed his aims to “reinforce a unified interpretation” of the handball law across Europe. “We cannot speak different technical languages across Europe, it is not good,” he said at UEFA’s Congress on February 12.
That said, he has claimed that referees are instructed to consider a player’s “attitude and intention”, whether arms were in a natural position and unavoidable deflections. But that didn't seem to be relevant for Davies against PSG, with the Bayern defender certainly making little movement towards the ball with his arm.
Former Premier League referee Graham Scott summed up the mood, saying: “Quite why UEFA asks its referees to be so tough on handball in its competitions is baffling, even if it does so with the noble aim of improving consistency. This would have been dismissed by a Premier League VAR on the first replay, but the Spanish video officials operate to a different interpretation in La Liga.
“They were likely persuaded by a still image suggesting Davies had extended his arm away from his body - he hadn’t, and it was a really poor call.”
If the PGMOL do alter their stance next season, it's bound to spark even more VAR rage.