Question Number: 30548

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 6/27/2016

RE: Competitive Adult

Paul of Hamilton, Ontario Canada asks...

Hi, we were playing yesterday and I crossed the ball into the box, the goalie tapped the ball and it hit his player in the arm and deflected back into the goalie's hands. I understand that if it is not intentional then it is not a hand ball call but in this situation the ball hitting the players arm stopped a goal scoring opportunity for us. Our player was right behind this player and the goalie was out of his net. Is this not a hand ball?

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Paul
One of the most misunderstood laws in the game. Soccer is a game in which players constantly move their arms and hands as a natural part of their movement, For it to be an offence it must be a deliberate action not an accidental one where the ball has hit the player. The outcome of the ball hitting the arm or the hand is irrelevant.
As described you indicate that the action was not intentional so there was no offence and play continues. Even if the ball was prevented from entering the goal through the unintentional act it is still play on.
Now In the game yesterday between Ireland and France there was a deliberate handling called. A French player in a tackle for possession from the side kicked the ball which hit the Irish players hand some two feet or so away in a natural position There was no way that was a deliberate action as the Irish player was not aware of the kick, its direction nor was he able to react to prevent it hitting him or for that matter even if he wanted to deliberately stop the ball I doubt he could have got his hand to it. The referee called the offence incorrectly IMO probably because the ball fell kindly to the Irish player after howls of handball. Later in the game another Irish player lifted his arms as he went to charge down a ball. That was a deliberate action and the referee made the correct call of deliberate handling in that situation.
I would safely say that the majority of balls hitting arms should not be called as they are rarely intentional or deliberate actions. I believe FIFA may try to bring greater clarity to the offence as it is plainly a contentious issue in the game.

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

If the defender had an opportunity to move his hand/arm out of the way and chose not to do so, then that would be deliberate handling - he deliberately left his arm in the way of the ball.

But it doesn't sound like that happened. An accident is an accident. No matter how beneficial the result of that accident is, it doesn't change it into a deliberate action.

Answer provided by Referee Jason Wright

Hi Paul,
All that matters is whether the handling by the defender was deliberate. Accidental handling that stops a goal, that falls to the player feet allowing him to score a goal, anything like that - is still accidental. Accidental handling that benefits that team is not a foul.
The referee needs to consider aspects such as whether the arms were in a natural position, how much opportunity the player had to react, skill of the players, and a number of other things.