Question Number: 25576

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 10/9/2011

RE: Rec & Competive Under 18

Chris of Poway, Ca USA asks...

Hi Ref,
i was calling a U-10 AA game and as a player was driving in the Goal area to take a shot/finish his run a defender made a play at the ball, the ball was deflected into the Forwards forearm and came directly down to the players foot in which a shot was taken and a goal was scored. The Player (Forward)stayed in his natural position, and he never made a deliberate/intentional movement to gain control or possession of the ball. I allowed the goal. I was on top of the play the whole time and when the ball was deflected i was looking for any movements from the player attempting to gain control, possession or an advantage from the play, it didn't happen. the goal stands.

Of course the coach and parents were enraged. When I explained the Law it made no difference.

Whats your opinion? i want to be the best i can and get the call right. Im just not that ref that is quick to blow the whistle on a non-deliberate handball.

Thanks

Answer provided by Referee Jason Wright

Good call Chris.

At times it takes a lot more courage to make the correct call than it does to make the popular one, but that's part of the job.

If the handling is accidental then it doesn't make a difference what happens afterwards - no offence has occurred.

I once had a similar situation in a men's Over 35 match, where an attacker had his arms down by his side and they were struck by a ball rapidly ricocheting around the crowded penalty area. As his arms were in a natural position and he didn't even see the ball, I allowed play to continue - even though the ball dropped straight to his feet and he immediately scored.

Really, this should be a no-brainer - the laws clearly state that handling must be deliberate. In these situations I do briefly explain that 'it doesn't matter what happens after, the laws say it must be deliberate. If it isn't, there's nothing I can do'.

Don't stress that the team were upset about the call - it happens, but it's no reflection upon you. Their outrage is a good dose of ignorance mixed in with a hefty dose of team bias.

Of course, in these situations you need to be careful of the reflexive movement of the arm towards the ball, but it sounds like your decision was spot on.

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

Good call. Even after you explain that handling has to be deliberate, you will often hear, 'But he benefited from it!' Doesn't matter. If it wasn't deliberate handling, it wasn't a foul, no matter where the ball goes.

In games much more advanced than U10 you need to carefully consider whether the ball was accidentally handled (as in Ref Wright's adult game) or not. More skilled players are often also more skilled at hiding 'deliberate' by making it look 'accidental'. They should also be more skilled at totally avoiding any accidental handling. That's why you will seldom see this kind of play on TV.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Chris
One of the most difficult calls in the game and the most difficult to 'sell'.
From what you describe your call was 100% correct. However with howls of 'handball ref' when the ball struck the player's arm no amount of explaining will change opinions.
Now in reality human nature being what it is players et al will look for a free kick at every possible opportunity. That happens every single time the ball makes contact with a player's hand or arm. The referee is then asked to adjudicate on this. What happens is through perhaps a desire to take the easy option the referee is inclined to award the DFK when the ball falls kindly to the player that has stopped the ball accidentally with his hand or arm. You will note though that the threshold for this rises significantly when the decision will result in a penalty. The very same coach and parents will be equally enraged if the referee were to award a penalty where the circumstances are reversed.
Referees must be brave and make what they believe is the correct decision based on their opinion. Some will agree with the decision while others will disagree. That's part of the territory. Your thinking here was correct, based on what you saw and the decision was 100% correct which is all that matters. At this age group it is rarely deliberate in the circumstance you describe.
In Europe this is the advice given to referees on deliberate handling
"" Although football is a game in which players constantly move their arms and hands as a natural part of their movement, it is recommended that in deciding if a player is handling the ball deliberately, it is essential to consider the following points:
# Was it a hand to ball situation or ball to hand?
# Are the player?s hands or arm in a ?natural? position?
# Should the player take the consequences of having his hand or arms lifted high?
# Does the player try to avoid the ball striking his hand?
# Is the player able to avoid the ball striking his hand?
# Does he use his hand or arm to intentionally touch the ball?""

Answer provided by Referee Michelle Maloney

Good job, Chris. This was clear and correct thinking all the way through the process, and courage to make the decision that there is no foul.

I have found that simply saying loudly 'Not deliberate!' when the uproar begins leaves them in confusion and quieter. If they persist, say 'no foul, therefore nothing else to call.' Do not try to explain further - they don't want to hear it, and my colleagues are right - if the shoe was on the other foot, they'd be howling bloody murder about how it wasn't a handling offense! Gotta love 'em. That's why impartial referees are so important.

Keep up the good work, dear.

The following questions were asked as a follow up to the above question...

See Question: 25611