Chelsea goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois has revealed that FA Cup final referee Anthony Taylor visited the club earlier in the season to explain the handball rule as he lamented the official's failure to spot Alexis Sanchez' "volleyball block."
Arsenal beat Chelsea 2-1 at Wembley on Saturday, with Sanchez opening the scoring on four minutes. The goal was awarded after discussions between Taylor and his assistant, who appeared to be considering whether Aaron Ramsey -- standing in an offside position -- had been interfering with play.
Chelsea boss Antonio Conte, though, said after the game that Sanchez "had his hands attached to the ball," and Courtois -- who said it was "clearly" handball -- has said that Taylor had previously visited the club to explain why such incidents should be ruled out.
"At the beginning of the season, they call us in to Cobham to explain the rules," he said. "It was even the same referee this year.
"They say that the hands should always be in a natural position. If he has his hands next to him and he gets the ball to the arm, he cannot do anything about it, but now he actually does a volleyball block. It's one of the best blocks I've seen."
The Laws of the Game state that handball must be a deliberate act, with referees told to consider "the movement of the hand towards the ball (not the ball towards the hand)" and "the distance between the opponent and the ball (unexpected ball)." The guidelines add that "the position of the hand does not necessarily mean that there is an infringement."
Courtois argued that the goal should also have been ruled offside because Ramsey had been interfering with play.
"Ramsey is out of control and bothering me, because if he's not there I can get out and get the ball before Alexis," Courtois said. "Because he's standing there, I stop and stop the defence. It's clear that he interrupts the game for me, that he participates in the game, and it's clear hands."
The Laws of the Game say it is an offence to be in an offside position if the player becomes "involved in active play," which can involve interfering with an opponent by: preventing an opponent from playing or being able to play the ball by clearly obstructing the opponent's line of vision; challenging an opponent for the ball; clearly attempting to play a ball which is close to him when this action impacts on an opponent; or making an obvious action which clearly impacts on the ability of an opponent to play the ball.
Chelsea defender Gary Cahill said: "That offside rule is a crazy rule. You can look to go to the ball and veer off and then you're not offside.
"It is the maddest rule I have ever seen. If he is not there, and it does not affect things, then maybe Thibaut comes out and grabs the ball."
Cahill also said Sanchez should have been penalised for handball, adding: "If he touches the ball with his hands in a natural position down by his side, I'd understand that [being allowed], but when you have both hands above your face, you're not telling me that is a natural position.
"It was incredible, to be honest. I spoke to him [the referee] at half-time and he was adamant he kneed the ball through. We saw it differently."