Frank Calls for Handball Rule Overhaul, Advocates for Timeouts in Premier League

Tottenham Hotspur manager Thomas Frank has said he would "take out" the Premier League's handball rule as "it's not right" while also suggesting adding a timeout to each half.

The handball rule has been a prominent talking point from the Premier League's opening weeks with Bournemouth's Marcos Senesi involved in an incident just 13 minutes into the new season against Liverpool.

Nottingham Forest vs. Brentford and Arsenal vs. Manchester United are fixtures this season that have also contained video assistant referee (VAR) decisions on handball offences and non-offences.

And Frank believes the rule itself needs to be changed to make the game fairer.

"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.

"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."

The Dane also spoke about the potential coaching benefits timeouts could have in Premier League games.

"I'd have a timeout in each half," the 51-year-old said.

"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."

Meanwhile, Spurs' new coach admitted that he has been pleased with his side's start to the campaign that has seen them record two wins, including a victory over Manchester City, before a 1-0 defeat at home to Bournemouth ahead of the September international break.

"I think it's been a good start to the season so far -- I've been really pleased with how the players have approached things since I've come into the football club," Frank said.

"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.

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"I'm never super, super satisfied unless we have won every game and performed to a really high level -- but it's been a good and positive start, which, for me, is the main thing."

In terms of what success for his side looks like in his first season at the club, Frank said he wants to build a strong foundation to get Spurs to where they want to be.

"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.

"If we can do that we will win enough games to get us into a place where we want to be, so that's the aim.

Spurs and Frank's first task after the international break will be a London derby away at West Ham before they begin their Champions League campaign at home to Villareal on Sept. 16.