Man City midfielder Ilkay Gundogan hits out at handball law after it costs them victory over Tottenham

Gabriel Jesus saw his potential match-winner chalked off after VAR replays showed the ball hitting Aymeric Laporte’s arm in the build-up to the goal

Manchester City midfielder Ilkay Gundogan has hit out at the controversial new handball law after seeing Gabriel Jesus’s potential winning goal against Tottenham ruled out for brushing Aymeric Laporte’s arm.

City celebrated what they thought was a 3-2 victory over Spurs, only for the Video Assistant Referee [VAR] to rule the goal out after Laporte managed to flick the ball on with his left arm into the path of his Brazilian teammate.

Fans booed the referee at full-time and a number of football pundits have questioned the validity of the law, which punishes any contact with the arm or hand in the penalty area that leads to a goal, regardless of intention.

It is the second match in a row where City have seen a goal chalked off following a VAR review, though this time it cost Pep Guardiola’s side two points and leaves them trailing Premier League title rivals Liverpool early in the season.

Speaking out against the ruling, Gundogan called for the law to be changed as it puts the attacking team at an immediate disadvantage, given it does not apply to the defending side who remain at the control of the referee’s discretion over any potential handball.

“Today's VAR decision is really hard to take,” Gundogan wrote on Twitter. “Any attacker that commits handball, intentional or not, is now ruled a free kick?? And if you’re defending it’s fine?? It only disadvantages the attacking team.

“In my opinion this rule needs to be changed.”

His manager, Pep Guardiola, took a more neutral stance on the incident despite seeing his side cough up points in only their second game of the season.

"We have to accept it," the City manager said.

"It's tough because we scored a goal late on. But ask [the] VAR people, not me."