Man United and Man City watch on as PGMOL chief explains major Premier League rule change

Howard Webb has clarified why no penalty has been given for handball in the Premier League this season after referees handed out a staggering 108 last season.

Webb, 53, explained that Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) had responded to feedback from those within the game that there were too many penalties for handballs when a player's arm was in a 'natural' or 'normal' position. The PGMOL Board's chief refereeing officer has now confirmed that the guidance for officials has changed, advising them to focus on deliberate handling offences.

That also includes when an arm is significantly away from the player's body. Referees are also now instructed to issue only a yellow card for non-deliberate handball offences when denying a goalscoring opportunity.

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During the latest instalment of Match Officials Mic'd Up, former Premier League referee Webb said: "We consulted with lots of stakeholders in the game during the latter part of last season, and the message we were being given is there were too many handball penalties being given in the English game in the Premier League for situations where players are playing fairly normally and naturally [where] we know players' arms move.

As per reports from The Mirror, he added: "So we said to the officials [to] look out for those situations where a player either deliberately handles the ball or has an arm that's well away from the body. We've seen situations where the ball's hit the arm in the penalty area this season. But the referee's applied what we asked them to do, and they've stepped away in terms of handball unless it's deliberate or very clearly unjustifiable."

Another alteration introduced into the Premier League this season is reducing the number of VAR interventions. However, VAR's call to opt against overturning the decision to send off Manchester United star Bruno Fernandes during the defeat to Tottenham Hotspur has already caused controversy.

He was, though, dealt a reprieve when United's appeal against his would-be suspension was successful.