Question Number: 32559

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 7/1/2018

RE: Pro Professional

Al Fiero of Syracuse, New York USA asks...

If an opponent has a hand ball in the box and the ball rolls into the goal... is it a self goal or a handball? I would say it should warrant a penalty kick because a hand ball immdiately effects the course of play.
97478

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

HI Al,
if the defender uses his hand or the ball hits his hand and the ball winds up in his goal, it is a goal. Advantage applies of the foul with a caution yellow card for the USB and play on applies if unintentional. NO PK is required if it was a DH . ONLY if the goal does NOT materialize off the advantage, THEN we go with the PK if it WAS inside the defender's PA. Likely a red card for DOGSO as well.
Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Al
A referee will and should always play advantage. There is no better advantage than to award a goal so if a defender deliberately handles a ball before it enters the goal the referee will award a goal. The failed attempt to stop the ball will also result in a caution.
Now sometimes a referee might stop play too early in which case he has no option but to award a penalty kick. As a goal has been denied by handling the ball the player must be sent off for denying an obvious goal by deliberate handling. That is why advantage can be the better decision.
Also if the handling is not deliberate then there is no offence and the goal must be awarded as there is no offence anyway.

Answer provided by Referee Peter Grove

Hi Al,
In this situation the referee should play the advantage, award the goal and if the handling stopped a ball that was heading into the net, caution the offender.

This was spelt out in the following terms in the 2006 FIFA Q&A:

''A player tries to prevent the ball entering the goal by deliberately handling it. The ball, however, enters the goal. What action does the referee take?
He awards the goal and cautions the player for unsporting behaviour.''