Former England international Steve McManaman has urged UEFA to eliminate what he described as an “atrocious” handball rule following a series of controversial penalty decisions in the UEFA Champions League semi-final first legs involving Arsenal and Bayern Munich.
The debate has intensified after contentious incidents in matches against Atletico Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain. Both fixtures saw disputed handball calls that left teams feeling unfairly treated. These decisions have triggered strong reactions from pundits and supporters, with many questioning the consistency of officiating in European competitions.
McManaman’s criticism comes amid growing frustration over how handball laws are interpreted. VAR involvement has played a major role in these decisions. The former winger described the rule as overly harsh and inconsistent. He believes it is damaging the flow and fairness of matches at the highest level.
The controversy began during Arsenal’s 1-1 draw with Atletico Madrid. Defender Ben White was penalised for handball after a VAR review. The ball had deflected onto his arm from close range. Julian Alvarez converted the resulting penalty to level the score.
Arsenal were later denied a penalty after referee Danny Makkelie overturned his original decision following another lengthy review. Manager Mikel Arteta criticised the call and described it as unacceptable.
A similar situation occurred in Bayern’s clash with PSG. A handball decision against Alphonso Davies led to a penalty. Manager Vincent Kompany labelled the decision highly debatable.
McManaman argued that the rule is ruining football. He pointed out inconsistencies between domestic leagues and European competitions. He insisted that penalties are being awarded too easily. The controversy has reignited calls for reform, with many believing the current law no longer reflects realistic in-game situations.