Summary

  1. get involved

    Get Involved - Phil McNulty Q&A coming uppublished at 09:44 British Summer Time

    Click 'Get Involved' at the top of this page to have your say

    We've got plenty more to cover from Leeds v Everton last night but later on this morning we've got a Q&A with BBC Sport chief football writer Phil McNulty.

    So get your questions in for Phil by clicking 'Get Involved' at the top of this page.

  2. Postpublished at 09:39 British Summer Time

    I feel like people would be clamouring for the return of the grey areas very quickly, Tom.

    It works for goal-scoring actions but in terms of penalties and free-kicks, I'd give it about 20 minutes before players were finding ways to deliberately kick the ball onto the hands of defenders in the penalty area.

    It's something Luis Suarez was particularly good at for a time when he was at Liverpool...

    Luis SuarezImage source, Getty Images
  3. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 09:34 British Summer Time

    Click 'Get Involved' at the top of this page to have your say

    How about changing the handball rule to something like the foot rule in hockey. Ball hits your foot its a foul end of. Same could apply in football ball hits your arm its a foul regardless of where your arm is. Takes away any grey areas.

    Tom, Birmingham

  4. Wolves sign wing-back Tchatchoua from Hellas Veronapublished at 09:30 British Summer Time
    Breaking

    Jackson TchatchouaImage source, Getty Images

    Wolves have announced the €12.5m signing of Jackson Tchatchoua from Serie A side Hellas Verona.

    The 23-year-old right wing-back has signed a five-year deal at Molineux, is a Cameroon international and was the fastest player plater in the Italian top flight last season - clocking a top seed of 36.3km/h.

    Impressive stuff and we'll be bringing you more transfer news a little bit later on.

  5. 'A really magic night'published at 09:27 British Summer Time

    Leeds 1-0 Everton

    Media caption,

    Farke on 'special' opening day win against Everton

    Leeds United boss Daniel Farke, speaking to BBC Sport: "We are happy and grateful we are allowed to present our supporters who had to suffer a lot over the years. It was a really magic night. It was special and a really good day for us.

    "Top performance. We were dominant in the first first half and had 12 shots. That is outstanding for a newly promoted side. I was bit worried because we were so dominant and normally you score. It can be costly when you don't take your opportunities. Lukas Nmencha took his opportunity. It was hard fought I think is the word."

    On the penalty: "I haven't seen it back on telly. During the game I got the feeling it was a penalty. There was an emotional influence by the roar of the home crowd. I was a bit worried the check was so long but if the check takes that long then surely you can't overturn it. I haven't seen it back so I can't judge it. I hope the referee was right."

    On Nmecha taking the penalty: "I was bit worried because I don't like a player who is just in the game to take them but he is such a good penalty taker. I didn't want to stop him. Calm yourself down and he will do the job. He has suffered a bit in the last years but he came up with the decisive goal.

    "There are games where you are struggling more an these are vital too. A good start is always crucial. The first win out of the way, the first clean sheet. We have to carry on and win many more points."

  6. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 09:20 British Summer Time

    Click 'Get Involved' at the top of this page to have your say

    The problem is the inconsistency in the decisions. Two clear hand balls in other games this weekend not given. The ball hit the Everton defenders arm not his hand and his arm was pulled into his body.

    William Neale, York

  7. Handball rule suffers from inconsistencypublished at 09:15 British Summer Time

    Leeds 1-0 Everton

    LiverpoolImage source, Getty Images

    Following the decision to award a penalty against James Tarkowski, comparisons have been drawn to a decision from the opening game of the weekend between Liverpool and Bournemouth.

    Marcos Sensei appeared to deliberately handle the ball as Hugo Ekitike looked to have made his way through on goal.

    The decision was not given on field by referee Anthony Taylor, and that was backed by VAR.

    The Premier League Match Centre said on X: , external"The referee’s call of no red card to Senesi was checked and confirmed by VAR – with the action deemed not to be a clear handball offence nor denial of a goal scoring opportunity, due to the distance from goal."

    Last night, they also explained their reason for allowing the penalty against Tarkowski: , external"The referee’s call of penalty for handball by Tarkowski was checked and confirmed by VAR – with it deemed that he leaned into the ball with his arm."

  8. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 09:09 British Summer Time

    Click 'Get Involved' at the top of this page to have your say

    Pen could have gone either way, don't think VAR would have turned it over if the ref hadn't given it. We would have been screaming for it if it had been the other way, and didn't deserve anything from the game after that performance, especially the terrible first half.

    Phil W, London

  9. What do the laws say?published at 09:03 British Summer Time

    Leeds 1-0 Everton

    According to Law 12, which covers handball, an infringement occurs when a player "touches the ball with their hand/arm when it has made their body unnaturally bigger".

    The law, which is detailed on the Football Association's website, , externalgoes on to explain that "a player is considered to have made their body unnaturally bigger when the position of their hand/arm is not a consequence of, or justifiable by, the player's body movement for that specific situation".

    But this is where it becomes murky.

    Before last season, the handball law was actually relaxed slightly. Players were told by the Premier League they do not have to move with their arms rigidly by their sides or behind their backs.

    The position of their arm or hand will be judged purely in relation to the movement of their body.

    "We get a sense that we give too many handballs for actions that are quite normal and justifiable," refereeing boss Howard Webb said at the time.

    "The guidance to officials this season is 'less is more'. You will see fewer harsh handball penalties."

  10. 'No way it was getting overturned'published at 08:56 British Summer Time

    Leeds 1-0 Everton

    Jamie Carragher
    Former Liverpool defender on Sky Sports

    I think it is definitely a penalty.

    The referee wasn’t 100% sure - he was in communication with his assistant and he needed help.

    I think the referee thought it was a penalty. He looked at his assistant for guidance.

    Because of VAR, we are in that position where officials have to give the decision and then VAR gets involved.

    It was like an old-fashioned decision. There was no way that was getting overturned.

  11. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 08:48 British Summer Time

    Click 'Get Involved' at the top of this page to have your say

    If ball hits arm in a natural position, then no penalty. However, this was "arm hits ball" as he clearly moved towards it by leaning. Clear penalty in my view.

    Paul Duncanson, Edinburgh

  12. 'You have to cut Tarkowski's arm off to avoid penalty'published at 08:44 British Summer Time

    Leeds 1-0 Everton

    Media caption,

    'You have to cut Tarkowski's arm off to avoid penalty' - Moyes

    Everton boss David Moyes, speaking to BBC Sport: "I'm really disappointed and unless you cut the boys hand off, I don't know where he goes. I don't know if the crowd plays a part in it. They got right behind their team and they played well and probably deserved the victory in fairness.

    "I think it's a really poor decision. VAR had a chance to undo it. They tried to say he was leaning to the ball. Surely you're allowed to lean with your hands by your sides."

    On the referees: "They were supposed to be quite fair to them but I think that's a really bad one for us. The referees haven't had a great weekend.

    "Leeds came out the blocks and we expected it. We changed at half-time and we were much better in the second half and if any team was going to win it, I thought it would be us."

  13. 'Guilt written all over Tarkowski's face'published at 08:39 British Summer Time

    Leeds 1-0 Everton

    Gary Neville
    Former Manchester United defender on Sky Sports

    James Tarkowski is the type of defender who thinks he should get in front of every single shot.

    The guilt was written all over Tarkowski's face. He knows it is a penalty.

    Tarkowski moved his arm towards the ball. He leans into it and he blocks it. It is a penalty, and he knows what he has done. He knows it is a penalty.

    He knows that he has made a mistake.

  14. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 08:34 British Summer Time

    Click 'Get Involved' at the top of this page to have your say

    Never a penalty. Everton were poor and shows the signings aren’t quality. KDH is a Championship level player. Definitely need more quality in asap or a long season is ahead.

    Graham Morrissey, Essex

  15. Postpublished at 08:27 British Summer Time

    Leeds 1-0 Everton

    I do think gesturing to say that the ball hit your arm is an interesting move when you're trying to argue that it wasn't a handball...

    James TarkowskiImage source, Getty Images
  16. 'I can't understand it, bizarre'published at 08:19 British Summer Time

    Leeds 1-0 Everton

    Everton

    You'd expect Everton defender James Tarkowski to say he didn't think it was a handball but he did seem genuinely surprised that the penalty decision stood.

    "As soon as the ref blew I was pretty confident it was going to get overturned," Tarkowski told Sky Sports. "My first question was 'if my arm is by my side is it a penalty?' And he said 'no'.

    "I've since read I leaned into the ball but there was nothing unnatural about my arm being by my side. I can't understand it. Bizarre."

  17. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 08:15 British Summer Time

    Click 'Get Involved' at the top of this page to have your say

    Did the ball hit his arm - yes. Did he move his body to deliberately get his arm in the way to block the ball - yes. Was he so close to the kicker that he had no time to prevent the above - no. Deliberate handball, must be penalty.

    Paul, Nottingham

  18. 'A scandal' - was Leeds penalty correct?published at 08:04 British Summer Time

    Leeds 1-0 Everton

    Jack Grealish and James Tarkowski speak to referee Chris Kavanagh at the final full whistleImage source, Getty Images

    Given there was only one goal in the game and it came via a penalty, it's no surprise that the biggest talking point is the incident that led to it.

    As Anton Stach's powerful strike arrowed towards goal, Everton defender James Tarkowski leaned to his left in an attempt to block the shot - and did so with his arm, which was tucked tightly to the side of his body.

    Referee Chris Kavanagh took his time before awarding the spot-kick, there was a fairly lengthy VAR check but the decision stood.

    Pundits were split on whether it was the right call with ex-Premier League forward Chris Sutton saying it was a "scandal" and "really, really harsh" on BBC Radio 5 Live's Monday Night Club.

    But on Sky Sports, both Jamie Carragher and Gary Neville agreed with the referee's decision.

  19. Postpublished at 07:59 British Summer Time

    It's about time we delved into that penalty incident then, isn't it?

  20. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 07:50 British Summer Time

    Click 'Get Involved' at the top of this page to have your say

    Definitely a penalty. Tarkowski leans towards the ball to block and it hits his arm. Fair result as Leeds by far better team and well deserved.

    Rich Bell, Hull