Tomas Soucek: Why West Ham Winner vs Aston Villa Was Disallowed in Longest VAR Check Ever

• West Ham were controversially denied a late winner against Aston Villa
• Tomas Soucek was penalised for handball after the longest-ever VAR check
• The handball rules and its application continue to be divisive among fans

West Ham's home game against Aston Villa had a dramatic ending after a late Tomas Soucek winner was chalked off.

The clash in London ended in a one-all draw, with Nicolo Zaniolo coming from the bench to cancel out Michail Antonio's opener in the first half.

It was Antonio's first goal since his return from a lengthy injury layoff, while it was Zaniolo's first since December last year.

David Moyes' side had the chance to steal maximum points when Konstantinos Mavropanos bundled the ball over the line deep into stoppage time.

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Football

Referee Jarred Gillet initially gave the goal after goal-line technology ruled that the ball had crossed the line. The VAR, however, halted play to dot the i's and, after a lengthy check, called Gillet to the pitch side monitor.

The check, as reported by the Athletic, was five minutes and 37 seconds - the longest ever since the introduction of the technology.

The goal was overturned after replays showed that the ball struck Tomas Soucek's arm before Mavropanos' final touch.

It was the second goal West Ham had overruled in the game for a handball offence. Antonio thought he had bagged a brace after half-time but the ball grazed his forearm from a Jarrod Bowen corner.

How handball rules work in football

The incidents revived questions of what qualifies to be a punishable handball offence. The International Football Association Board(IFAB) expressly states that not every ball that hits the hand is a handball. The difference is made in 'the upper boundary of the arm is in line with the bottom of the armpit.'

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The clause goes further to explain that it will be a handball offence if a player deliberately touches the ball with his hand or touches the ball after making his body size unnaturally bigger in a way that the arm was in the way of the ball.

The rule that determined the validity of Soucek's goal was the clause that states,

"It will be an offence if a player scores in the opponent's goal directly from their hand/arm, even if accidental, including by the goalkeeper or immediately after the ball has touched their hand/arm, even if accidental."

The ball grazed Soucek's arm on its way in in the goal-mouth melee.

FIFA considers VAR changes

Sports Brief has previously reported that FIFA is looking into making changes in how VAR decisions are made on the pitch.

The world governing body is reportedly considering making referees explain their decisions to the fans inside the stadium.

If introduced, football will have something similar to TMO in rugby.