Dier: Premier League defenders are ‘terrified’ of new handball rule

Eric Dier admitted the controversy regarding handballs in the Premier League has left defenders ‘terrified’ in their own penalty areas.

The Premier League introduced a new rule for this season that sees any contact made with the ball and hand inside the box result in a penalty.

Players, managers, and pundits have all slammed the ‘morally corrupt’ regulation and called for it to stop. It comes in light of several controversial penalty decisions that have come in the opening three games of the new campaign.

Dier, for instance, was a victim of the rule last weekend in Tottenham’s 1-1 draw with Newcastle. The ball struck the back of his hand as he challenged Andy Carroll for a header; leading to Callum Wilson’s 97th-minute equalizer from the spot.

“You’re terrified in and around the box with the new rule,” said Dier as quoted on Goal.

“You don’t feel free to act, to try to play in a normal way. Sometimes it’s difficult because it’s something that can come back to bite you and is still an opinion.

“The fact that everyone seems to be of the same opinion, which is a rarity in football, makes it clear that things aren’t right. If the opposition manager is saying … that he doesn’t think it’s a penalty, which is also a rarity, it’s very clear.”