Question Number: 14408

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 11/10/2006

RE: Under 14

Matt of St. Louis, MO USA asks...

U13, Ball is crossed from the touchline toward the Penalty Mark. Defender standing near the boundary line of the Penalty Area jumps straight up with arms bent 90 degrees at elbow so her hands are level with her head. The ball strikes her hand and deflects away from its path. In my view she was not deliberately trying to play the ball with her hand, but her hands were away from her body and she gained an advantage by preventing the ball continuing to the front of the goal where an attacker might have played it. I called a PK for hand-ball in the Area. Correct call?

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

Incorrect! There is no such thing as hand-ball so there is no possible way you can award a penalty kick for that offense.

What the defender did was use her hands and arms to prevent the ball from passing her, this is handles the ball deliberately, a direct free kick offense under Law 12. Gaining advantage has nothing to do with the fact she handled the ball deliberately or not.

Regards,

Answer provided by Referee Ben Mueller

There is no such thing as a handball. We only call deliberate handling. If you felt the defender deliberatly played the ball with his arm, then the PK is the correct call. If the ball accidently struck the hand, then there is no call.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

How in the world can you justify a PK for an offense that did NOT takes place inside the penalty area? I'm dumbfounded and would like to hear your explanation. Pk's by definition are awarded for penal fouls INSIDE the penalty area. You have made this game protestable by a gross misapplication of the Laws. Also, the word handball is menaingless and as a referee you should refrain from using it. What this player did was deliberately handle the ball and this has absolutely nothing to do with advantage.She either did or did not handle it. She deliberately handled it by, as you rightly state, by having her arms in an unnatural position and allowing the ball to strike her arms when she caould have avoided it. You should have awarded a DFK from the point of the handling violation.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Ok lets fix this rather then finger point.
The foul is "handles the ball deliberately"

First you say it was not a foul but then declare the actions must be a foul? A Pk is only correct if in your opinion the player handles the ball deliberately inside her penalty area.

You state "The ball strikes her hand and deflects away from its path In my view she was not deliberately trying to play the ball with her hand!"
Conclusion no foul!
You state "she gained an advantage by preventing the ball continuing to the front of the goal where an attacker might have played it."
ADVANTAGE is not a consideration if the player is not quilty of the foul, the ball hitting the hand is simply a rebound off a body part

You then muddle the no foul comments with the actions she takes.
Defender standing near the boundary line of the Penalty Area (WAS THE INCIDENT INSIDE OR OUTSIDE THE PA???)jumps straight up (WAS THIS DONE TO PLAY THE BALL???)
with arms bent 90 degrees at elbow so her hands are level with her head.. Her hands were away from her body.

As in most calls ITOOTR (In the opinion of the referee) as to what occurs your match, your decision, your reputation. Here you have to decide if the ACTIONS are deliberate, not her intent, not the result. It is possible to handle a ball deliberately without intending to do so because it is your actions to play the ball that are judged. We cannot read minds we look to see what the player does!
Cheers