Question Number: 31136

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 12/29/2016

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

This question is a follow up to question 31134

I have one other question about removed sentence *Preventing an opponent gaining possession*. Do you punish some types of this offences with YC even now? (For example, when player handles the ball with the obvious intent, but this incident is not about stopping promising attack etc.) Thanks!

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Peter
In the same way referees do not caution every foul referees only look to caution deliberate handling that are blatantly unsporting. Many times handling is just a foul with no further action required. An example would be say a charge down at half way on a 50/50 ball with the player using his arms to make himself bigger. The play could unfold as not creating any real disadvantage to the offended against team. Compare that to the player that reaches up with a hand to stop a through ball to an unmarked attacker in a promising position.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

HI Petr,
as described use the word BLATANT in your thinking to differentiate the yellow card from just a careless effort. It is you know it if you see it type of thing. 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 Peter Grove

Hi Petr,
Given everything the IFAB has said about handling both now and in the past, I think it is clear that we should not caution a player who simply 'handles the ball with obvious intent' in a way that prevents an opponent gaining possession, unless in addition, it interferes with a promising attack.

Please bear in mind that unless the handling is obviously intentional, it's not even an offence in the first place.

The problem was that some referees were taking the view that almost every handball could be seen as preventing the ball reaching an opponent (unless perhaps, there was another team mate standing directly behind the player committing the handball) and what the new wording is designed to make clear, is that there needs to be more than a mere denial of possession, before the offence deserves a caution.