Thread by @DaleJohnsonESPN

It's Monday VAR thread time. In today's episode:

- A full explanation of the disallowed Everton goal in relation to the Laws of the Game (fact, not opinion)
- How the new handball interpretation for next season would have changed games this season

So the disallowed goal was unfortunate for Everton, both in the way Sigurdsson ended up in the position he did and that the ball deflected into his path.

That said, I believe this goal would be disallowed in a VAR league almost every time. First, how the offside rule is applied.

The offside law now works in this way: the point a shot or pass is played decides whether a player is in an offside position. It doesn't necessarily decide the offside offence.

From this point on until the end of the phase, the offside player can become active.

The deflection off Harry Maguire is unfortunate, because his movement is not a deliberate play of the ball (which would have reset the phase and put Sigurdsson onside) but it is key.

Maguire would have to make a misdirected pass or clearance - a block doesn't count.

The first aspect of this incident which many have struggled with is "field of vision".

The important thing here is this doesn't mean "can De Gea see the ball?", it's more "can De Gea see Sigurdsson?".

The answer is unequivocally yes.

The second aspect is "making an obvious action which clearly impacts on the ability of an opponent to play the ball".

It is crucial here to note that "impacts on the ability" is a theoretical idea, there will be no judgement made on De Gea's ability to make the save.

Purely in terms of the offside law, both by his mere presence and by pulling his legs out of the way, Sigurdsson has to have an influence on De Gea's decision -making.

Sigurdsson is effectively dummying the ball.

Again, remember whether De Gea saves it is not a consideration.

If Sigurdsson had been stood up, and opened his legs for the ball to pass through, I don't think people would even question the decision.

And in terms of the offside law, it is this act of Sigurdsson influencing the play that seals it, whether he is stood up or sat down.

Obviously, this is a subjective element to an objective law, so there will be refs who disagree, though I believe most would disallow it and certainly so in VAR leagues.

But in other VAR leagues, the referee would of course use the monitor to make the decision....

Also been a lot of comment about the Wan-Bissaka challenge on Sigurdsson for a penalty just before. It was checked.

How often do we see these kind of incidents penalised? It looks much worse from behind the goal, but side on Sigurdsson looks to be anticipating the block.

Could it have been a penalty? Perhaps.

Is it the kind of block challenge we see on strikers most weekends that do not result in penalties? Most definitely.

Onto the new handball law interpretation, and how it would have changed things this season.

The new law will make the "t-shirt line" the new start of the arm. So where the sleeve of the football shirt ends, which isn't going to be totally clear.

The new law is fine for players who are wearing short-sleeve shirts, but won't always be clear for those in long-sleeves or perhaps those with base layers the same colour as the shirt.

So how many goals would have stood this season that were disallowed?

There have been 10 goals disallowed for handball this season, plus the Harry Wilson goal ruled out for defensive handball leading to a penalty.

Of those 11 goals, it seems likely four of the disallowed goals would have stood, plus the Wilson goal with no penalty for Burnley.

These are the disallowed handball goals that would have stood:

- Leander Dendoncker Wolves vs. Leicester
- Dominic Calvert-Lewin Everton vs. Brighton
- Josh King Bournemouth vs. Burnley
- Harry Wilson Bournemouth vs. Burnley
- Troy Deeney Watford vs. Man United

So the new handball interpretation is going to put us in a better place, and means half the goals disallowed this season would stand.

But there is still going to be that level of subjectivity about where the ball hits. But incidents like Oliver McBurnie should now be instant.

The IFAB will also make clear the correct interpretation of attacking handball, about immediacy to a goal.

Unlike in other leagues, the Premier League has been lucky not to have any goals disallowed through handball way back.

Thread explains it all:

https://twitter.com/DaleJohnsonESPN/status/1219371595304710144?s=20

Just for those Everton fans who keep telling me no own goal has ever been disallowed for offside.

I give you a Wes Morgan own goal for Leicester against Southampton three years ago, disallowed because Yoshida impacted on his decision-making ability.

So we can put that to bed.