Question Number: 13242

Law 18 - Common Sense 7/1/2006

RE: Social Adult

Tom Roper of Perth, Western Australia Australia asks...

Playing this afternoon, a situation came about from a corner kick where I headed the ball goalward and it was presumably going in the bottom corner from other sources.

A player was situated on the 6 yard box line with his hands in front of him at waist level, and the ball struck him on the hands impeding the shot. No foul was given and as we consulted the ref the opposing team broke and scored. His case was 'it wasnt deliberate'.

Should an infraction have been called on the contact or was his judgement correct?

Thankyou.

Answer provided by Referee Ben Mueller

Referee was correct. For it to be called it must be a deliberate and intentional handball.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

HI Tom ,
NEVER, EVER, stop playing unless the whistle goes. To complain for a non existant foul, a percieved foul or a hard foul while play is ongoing is simply poor play.

A referee makes the call, players play, a ball that strikes the hand is no different then if the ball struck that player in the back, knee ,face or crotch, during play, it is another body part.
For a call of DELIBERATE HANDLING the referee must SEE the ACT as a DELIBERATE PLAY on the ball. A referee decision can occassionaly be in error but his judgement on facts concerning play are ALWAYS Final!
Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

Taking your concentration off the match to argue a call is NEVER a good idea. While your team was arguing, the other team scored!!!! Bottom line is the referee felt the ball played the hand not vice versa. No foul. Regardless, if you want to speak to a referee about anything, wait till a stoppage of play. In order for this to be foul play, the referee would have to believe the opponent deliberately handled the ball. Obviously, this referee didn't feel that way. Get on with play and politely talk to him later if you want an explanation