Question Number: 31134

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 12/28/2016

Petr of Prague, Czech Republic Czech Republic asks...

Hello,

describe please changes about YC for handball. Now only if it stops a promising attack? Eventually describe please other YC handball punishments. Thank you!

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Hi Petr,
the foul of handles the ball deliberately places far too much emphases on the visual aspect of this infringement than the culpability and reasons why the incidents occur. ITOOTR! A referee forms an opinion of each incident and applies the LOTG guidelines based on their personal understanding by formulating an opinion as to how the incident is unfair if it IS deliberate and if it is NOT deliberate, ensuring play continues unabated.

AS in any caution for USB, which is in effect what deliberate handling to break up an attack or stop a scoring threat is, not withstanding the RED card for an obvious DOGSOH. There is NO reason that every deliberate handling requires a caution show a yellow card even if I hold the opinion that MANY DHFs *deliberate handing fouls are incorrectly awarded. In part because I believe the OBVIOUS DHF is easily seen for what it is. The card that accompanies the incident is easily accepted by those involved given the dynamics were readily seen by all! I jump up and swat the ball to stop it from getting past me, pretty obvious , very deliberate!

The CONTACT between the ball and arm BECAUSE it is a visual representation foul often evokes cries of foul simply because contact occurs. It takes a wise and seasoned referee to wave away the cries for something that truly can not be determined as obviously deliberate.

That is my personal biases against those who far too readily find fault when I believe far too much doubt is involved. One should make the call only when CERTAIN it was deliberate. I suggest that the fact the deliberate knock down of a ball by a player is EASILY seen for what it is as opposed to a poor attempt to control a bouncing ball that also makes contact. SAVE the cards for the incidents that SCREAM BLATANT FOUL DONE TO MESS WITH THE OPPONENT! Mostly the other incidents are likely not even a true deliberate foul never mind cardable misconduct. There are three BLATANT reasons to show a yellow card for the USB of handling a ball deliberately.
TWO are defensive: (a) to tactically stop an attack, (b) to try BUT fail to stop a goal .
The third is if an attacker tries to manipulate a goal by using the arm/hand to knock it in.
Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Peter
The two main deliberate handling offences that merit yellow cards are 1. The breaking up of a promising attacks and 2 failing to prevent a goal. Both are blatant fouls to gain a significant advantage. In other cases a player might try to control the ball with his hand with no real disadvantage to opponents. The player might even be in possession and the handling just maintains same.
The reason the Law was updated on this was that some referees were cautioning for handling on too many occasions. So *Preventing an opponent gaining possession* is now removed as a yellow card offence as it caused more referees to caution on every handball. For example at one time La Liga in Spain had advised referees to caution on all deliberate handling which was patently not required and at odds with the LOTG. The change also carifies that a player who tries unsuccessfully to handle the ball to stop a goal being scored should receive a yellow card.

Answer provided by Referee Peter Grove

Hi Petr,
Actually, according to the IFAB in its explanation of the Laws changes for 2016-17, the change in the wording was to clarify, not change the intent of the law. As Ref McHugh points out, the old wording led some referees to issue yellow cards for any deliberate handling which was never the intent of the law.

This used to be made clear in the Laws by the following statement:

''Referees are reminded that deliberately handling the ball is normally punished only by a direct free kick or penalty kick if the offence occurred inside the penalty area. A caution or dismissal is not normally required.''

For some reason this advice to referees was removed in 2007, seemingly as part of a reorganisation that saw an expanded section of additional instructions for referees included with the main Laws document. This new section said that a yellow card for deliberate handling was only required in specific circumstances but for me, made it less clear than the previous statement given above and may unfortunately have contributed to a misinterpretation of the law.

The current alteration in the wording was an attempt to redress the balance and make the intent of the law clearer once more.

Ref McHugh has already given one of the other YC handling offences, it is also a yellow card if a player handles the ball deliberately in an attempt to score a goal.

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

See Question: 31136