‘How is he not off?’ – Fans baffled by Ipswich keeper’s blunder but little-known rule says he shouldn’t even be booked

FANS called for Ipswich goalkeeper Alex Palmer to be sent off after he used his hands to clear a back-pass off the line.

But a little-known rule saved him from being booked for his shocking blunder, with Ipswich 1-0 up on Wolves at the time.

Ipswich – who later went on to lose 2-1 in their struggle to stay up -passed the ball back to Palmer but he let the ball run through his legs.

It was about to roll over the line before the stopper chased back and scooped it up with his hands.

Referee Peter Bankes immediately awarded an indirect free-kick to Wolves inside the six-yard box.

And all 11 Ipswich players gathered across the line in unison, as seven Wolves stars stood inside the box on top of the ball.

But Wolves had to pass the ball before shooting, which allowed the relegation-threatened Tractor Boys to clear.

Wolves touched the free-kick to Emmanuel Agbadou who belted it from six yards but Sam Morsy was out quickly to block it away.

However, fans were outraged and confused as to why Palmer hadn’t been sent off for denying a clear goalscoring opportunity.

One wrote: “How has he not been sent off there?”

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But the rules clearly show that it’s not a bookable offence.

The International Football Association Board (IFAB) who set the laws of the game state if a goalkeeper handles a backpass “an indirect free kick is awarded and no card is shown.”

The FA’s guidance is also clear: “If the goalkeeper 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 was not booked for handling the ball, but was cautioned for encroachment before the free-kick was taken.

So fans felt aggrieved that the goalkeeper was not given two yellow cards and sent off.

Liam Delap opened the scoring with a brilliant header inside 16 minutes after a lengthy VAR check to check the offside.

But things soon turned against Ipswich after super sub Pablo Sarabia pulled Wolves level off the bench in the 72nd minute.

Jorgen Strand Larsen’s tap in from six-yards clinched a 2-1 win for the visitors late on.

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