A little-known regulation prevented Ipswich Town custodian Alex Palmer from receiving a red card during his team’s 2-1 Premier League loss to Wolves on Saturday afternoon. The 28-year-old caused a stir when he cleared a back pass off the line with his hand.
In the pivotal match in the relegation struggle, the Tractor Boys were ahead 1-0 at the time, and the visiting fans were upset that referee Peter Bankes had not sent him off. He gave an indirect free-kick instead. View the incident below:
Palmer mishandled the ball when Kieran McKenna’s team, who lost 2-1 in their attempt to escape the drop zone, passed it back to him. Within thirty-four minutes, the stopper chased back and caught it with his hands just as it was about to roll over the queue. But according to the regulations, Palmer’s behaviour didn’t even call for a warning.
Why Alex Palmer Wasn’t Sent Off Against Wolves
It’s down to a little-known rule
Palmer’s handball isn’t a bookable infraction, according to the rules, despite the consternation among Wolves fans. This comes after some well-known football figures criticised the regulation for not providing the opposition with a significant enough advantage. View the post below:
According to the International Football Association Board (IFAB), which establishes the rules of the game, “an indirect free kick is awarded and no card is shown” if a goalie handles a backpass. The Football Association’s rules are very clear: “If the custodian handles the ball inside their penalty area when not permitted to do so, an indirect free kick is awarded, but there is no disciplinary sanction.”
Palmer received a warning for encroaching prior to the free-kick being taken, but he was not penalised for handling the ball. Even while many fans are still upset that the goalie was not sent off, the decision did not alter the outcome of this particular match, and Ipswich now have just seven games remaining to make up a 12-point deficit if they hope to avoid relegation.
Above them are Wolves, who, despite firing Gary O’Neil and replacing him with Vitor Pereira early in the season, will probably feel they’ve done what it takes to play in the Premier League again next season. Right now, they have won three straight games.
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