Question Number: 31321

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 3/7/2017

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

This question is a follow up to question 31258

Hello,

I have one video on this topic (in time 58:00)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UsYoKCotTe0

Fabregas has arm CLOSE TO THE BODY, but I think, that arm goes to the ball and it is apparetly deliberate. But it was without offence. What do you think about it? Thanks!

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Petr
Video is not conclusive enough. There is sufficient doubt to question whether the ball was played by the arm or not.
I think it can be viewed that the ball was played by the chest in which case there is no deliberate handling.
Every week there are multiple appeals for balls hitting players arms. I had the usual amount in my game at the weekend. In one instance a player raised his hands for protection, the ball missed them and hit him in the face. Cue appeals for handball which I promptly dismissed. One player was adamant that it hit the players hands whereas my clear view was that it did not. It gave him a bloody lip though which confirmed my call.
So we are still awaiting some advice from IFAB the law making body on the subject of handling. It is now probably one of the most difficult calls to make in the game. I would go as far as to say that real deliberate handling is now so unusual as compared to the ball hitting players that some significant change needs to be made to the Law. We await the deliberations of IFAB on this.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Hi Petr,
I tend to believe the call is easier then those who think it is not .Unless I am 100% convinced it was then it was not! Your match Your Decision Your Reputation.
If you do not blow the whistle when the arm and ball connect you could be right far more often then you would be wrong by 90%.
Cheers