Tottenham Hotspur boss Thomas Frank has given his view on what changes he would like to see in football and highlighted handballs as an area that could be improved in the Premier League
Tottenham Hotspur boss Thomas Frank would like to see two significant changes made to the laws used in the Premier League. The Danish coach identified the rules around handballs as an area he would like to see altered when asked for his input on how football could be improved.
Frank was appointed Spurs head coach earlier this summer, leaving Brentford after almost seven years in charge. The 51-year-old got off to a quick start as he claimed comfortable victories over Burnley and Manchester City before slipping up against Bournemouth before the international break.
Handball has already proven a contentious topic in the Premier League this term with an incident involving Marcos Senesi in Liverpool’s win over Bournemouth hitting the headlines. The VAR has been involved in decisions around handball in Nottingham Forest vs Brentford and Arsenal vs Manchester United, too.
For Frank, the current laws are too punitive in how strictly a ball hitting the arm is policed. He believes that a penalty is too severe a punishment for what can prove an unfortunate, accidental touch.
“I would take out the handball rule as for me it’s not right,” Frank told BetMGM. “If there’s a handball and it touches your arm in the penalty area, you are giving the biggest chance to the opponent just because it ‘touches’ your arm.
READ MORE: Premier League confirms latest batch of VAR errors – with two clubs wrongedREAD MORE: Nuno accused of ‘getting himself sacked’ after attack on Nottingham Forest chief
“Of course, if you’re standing on the goalline and you try to save it like a goalkeeper in the old days that’s different but I simply don’t understand how if it just touches a player’s arm, and it touches their arm in certain areas, it gives the opportunity for the biggest chance in the game.
“It’s a rule that has to be changed to improve the game and make it fairer.”
Frank would also like to see timeouts added into games. “I’d have a timeout in each half,” he added.
“From a coaching perspective, I think it would be lovely to have an opportunity during the game to speak to the players and be able to adjust something.”
In terms of his new job, Frank is happy to be working with the Spurs squad and already believes he has learned a lot. “The players have been fantastic from my first day here and I’m learning more and more about them every day,” he said.
“It’s about how they react to certain situations, what works and what doesn’t and also what they are like as people and also as players. I think all head coaches and managers have their own way of doing things and I’m no different. The one thing I always think about coaching philosophy is do what you believe in – I’m me, I can’t be anyone else and I need to do what I believe in both on and off the pitch.
“I need to come across the way I am and I think that’s the best way for players to buy into what you’re trying to get across in the way you do things.”
Join our new WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don’t like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you’re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.
Sky Sports discounted Premier League and EFL package
Sky has slashed the price of its Essential TV and Sky Sports bundle ahead of the 2025/26 season, saving members £336 and offering more than 1,400 live matches across the Premier League, EFL and more.
Sky will show at least 215 live Premier League games next season, an increase of up to 100 more.
