Tottenham's Thomas Frank urges timeouts, calls for overhaul of handball rule

Tottenham Hotspur manager Thomas Frank has proposed allowing a timeout in each half of matches and urged a change to the current handball law, calling the existing rule "unfair" when the ball merely touches a player’s arm in the penalty area.

Speaking in an interview with BetMGM, the club’s training-gear sponsor, Frank said a formal timeout would let coaches relay instructions and adjust tactics during play. "I'd have a timeout in each half. 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," he said.

Frank also reiterated his criticism of the modern handball interpretation, especially inside the penalty area. "I would take out the handball rule as for me it's not right," he said. "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. 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."

Managers are not currently permitted to call official timeouts in football and normally pass instructions from the touchline or during half-time. There has been a recent trend of coaches taking advantage of lengthy stoppages for injuries to confer with players, but formal in-game timeouts would represent a significant change to a sport already affected by VAR-related delays that have drawn fan frustration.

Frank, 51, joined Tottenham from Brentford over the summer, replacing Ange Postecoglou. He has overseen a positive start to his tenure, with Spurs winning two of their first three Premier League matches and taking European champions Paris Saint-Germain to penalties in the UEFA Super Cup. The team suffered a 1-0 defeat to Bournemouth ahead of the international break, a result Frank described as a minor setback amid an otherwise encouraging opening run.

"It's been a good start to the season so far," Frank said, adding that he was pleased with the players' approach since his arrival. "We've played three games in the Premier League and one in the UEFA Super Cup and I've been happy with three of the performances. We weren't good enough against Bournemouth but overall from where we started to where we are now, I'm satisfied. Success this season is building something that is sustainable and strong. I want us to consistently perform at our highest level each and every game."

Frank's suggestions touch on broader debates in the game about balancing coach influence, reducing contentious decisions and preserving flow. Any change to timekeeping or the handball law would require discussion and approval from football's governing bodies, which have in recent years tightened interpretations of handball and reviewed in-game protocols amid calls for clarity and consistency.