World Cup qualifiers: Handball frustration in Wales – what the pundits and the rules are saying

But 16-cap defender Tom Lockyer sensed Wales were in trouble as soon as Video Assistant Referee (VAR) Pascal Muller urged referee Seibert to review the incident on screen.

“The longer it went on, the more (Siebert) took one look at it and made his decision right away,” Lockyer said.

“These European referees don’t mess around when it comes to handball, and they’re a lot tougher than we are in the UK.”

Former Wales player and assistant manager Kit Simmons feels the stricter interpretation in European competition could result in attacking players deliberately seeking to play the ball against the arms of defenders.

“In international European football, you know it will be given,” he told BBC Radio 5 Live Breakfast.

“It’s the handball rule that really bothers people, and the referees don’t particularly like it either, I know that.

“[Charles] De Ketelaere passed it to Ampadu. The strikers are now looking to do that, it’s smart play from the front if you like.

“Intent is one of the criteria, there was no intent at all, it was very close.

“There are some standards that don’t really apply to the box, but his arm was a little bit out and it was going towards the goal and all that stuff. It’s unfortunate but you know it’s going to be given to him, I’m afraid.”