Jim Goodwin says current handball rules mean if you are a modern defender you have “got to wrap your arms around your back and hope for the best”.
But the Aberdeen manager also thinks sides must accept – with VAR now in place in the Scottish Premiership – handball calls will go against them this season.
The Dons lost 2-1 at Livingston on Tuesday, despite roaring back in the second half.
It was a result which meant the Lions pulled level with Goodwin’s side on 22 points.
Three penalties were awarded by referee Nick Walsh during the 90 minutes, all given after VAR drew the whistler’s attention to potential handballs, with one going against Aberdeen and two in their favour.
Goodwin said: “VAR is going to add a bit of entertainment to the situation, that’s for sure.
“We’ve got a few of them in our favour in recent weeks. On Tuesday, the first one went against us.
“It is what it is.”
Following Jack Fitzwater’s opener, Livi extended their lead from the penalty spot on 18 minutes after Reds midfielder Connor Barron was adjudged by Walsh to have handled after the ref went to the monitor.
At the end of the first half – and following another VAR review – Livi’s Jason Holt was punished after Dons midfielder Leighton Clarkson’s strike from the edge of the area hit his hand.
Although Aberdeen couldn’t take this first chance to score a penalty of their own, with Bojan Miovski denied by keeper Shamal George, Miovski’s strike partner Duk would net from the spot after the break.
This third penalty of the night was again only given by Walsh following a VAR review – after Miovski’s downward header struck Fitzwater’s arm.
After the game, Goodwin was content with the officiating in the game and admitted he is “getting a little bit fed up reading and talking about” VAR, rather than football, saying: “On Tuesday, I don’t think there was great deal of controversy involved in any of the penalties. The handball rule is the handball rule and that’s the way it’s going to be.
“The players are well aware of that and they’re just going to have to be a bit cuter and keep their arms out of the way in the future.”
The Dons boss, who was in the stands at Livi as he served the final match of his immediate three-game SFA ban, added: “I just think we need to accept – the media and those involved in the game – that’s the way it’s going to go.
“If Leighton Clarkson’s shot is going on target and the Livingston player’s hand is in an unnatural position, then it’s a penalty.
“Same at the other end – if Connor Barron’s hand blocks the ball and is in an unnatural position, then we accept it.
“It’s difficult for defenders nowadays, in and around the box you’ve got to wrap your arms around your back and hope for the best.
“But it’s very difficult when instinctively you just want to stop the ball going on target.”
‘It’s a poor defeat, but we’ll pick ourselves up, and go again on Saturday’
The disappointing defeat at Almondvale, which was the product of horrendous start from Aberdeen, was the first time the Dons have lost consecutive away games in the top-flight to the Lions.
The Reds close out their pre-World Cup break schedule at home to Dundee United on Saturday, and will be looking to bounce back from defeat in West Lothian, while also seeking revenge for a dismal 4-0 hammering at Tannadice earlier in the season.
Goodwin, who thought Aberdeen’s second half display against Livi merited a point, said: “I’m going to analyse that first 20 minutes and as a group we’ll talk about why we didn’t react properly from the first minute.
“It’s not a night for me to be apologising for the performance to the supporters through a lack of effort and commitment.
“That first 20 minutes, absolutely, but thereafter I thought my players were excellent.
“And the second half, as I said, was one of the most one-sided I’ve been involved in.
“If we can play like we did in the second 45 more consistently, we’ll give ourselves a far better chance of winning games.
“But we haven’t been on a terrible run up until now. It’s a poor defeat, but we’ll pick ourselves up, and go again on Saturday.
“If we can win that game on Saturday, then hopefully we’ll still be sitting third in the table.”
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