Question Number: 31258

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 2/14/2017

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

This question is a follow up to question 31220

Hello, I remembered one particular situation. It is Hulk's handball. I mean similar situations.

http://www.slate.com/blogs/the_spot/2014/06/28/hulk_handball_this_photo_proves_that_the_brazil_chile_handball_call_was.html

In the article is note:'The referee must take the following into consideration: the movement of the hand towards the ball (not the ball towards the hand).'

What if Hulk did not do this move? (I can imagine that Hulk stops and ball 'lands' on his arm - arm is close to the body without movement to the ball). Offense or not? I am interested in situations where the player can concentrate fully on processing (not about sharp shot from one or two metres). Thank you and sorry.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Petr
This is an example of what we are saying. Referees can look at this and be divided as to the decision. The question the referee has to answer is whether Hulk used his upper arm to control and direct the ball? I think that with the player raising him arm in such a manner makes it looks like he is cupping the ball between his chest and arm stopping the ball going away from him to his right. It looks like handling simply because of that action.
Now the referee crew made a handling call based on what they saw and opined as to what happened. They do not have the luxury of video replay just what they see from their angle of view in real time. I think it was the correct call and I have no difficulty with the decision. Another referee may opine that the player chested the ball which is not an offence.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

HI Petr,
the simple act of rolling the wrist will turn a shoulder and flex the arm albeit slightly to form a small wedge of control on a crossed ball even when the arm is tight to the body as it pushes the arm ever so slightly outward away from the chest. It is a bit different on a ball directed at a player but on a cross coming in right to left for a ball to contact that area up on the chest shoulder and fall at the feet at what is effectively a knock down at a right angle, looks highly suspicious. The officials made the call immediately, I did not see huge protests, thus I too have no difficulty with the decision.
Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Peter Grove

Hi Petr,
The article mentions one of the factors referees should consider but as I think was mentioned in responses to your previous questions, there are other factors to consider. In terms of the player having plenty of time to see the ball coming, that is covered (in a sense) by the second factor:

''the distance between the opponent and the ball (unexpected ball)''

What this suggests to me is that if by contrast, the ball is expected because the distance involved is relatively large, then if the player does not move their hand or arm out of the way despite having plenty of opportunity to do so, then the likelihood of a deliberate handling offence is correspondingly increased.

It still seems you are asking for a definitive judgement on incidents that have not yet occurred, based on their similarity to a previous incident. However in my opinion every case must be judged on its merits at the time it occurs and it is just not possible to make a blanket statement in advance, that every time the ball contacts a player's arm close to the body, it either is or isn't a handling offence.

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

See Question: 31321