Question Number: 34836

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 1/16/2023

RE: Adult

AEK Fan Club Of NY of ASTORIA, NY USA asks...

With regards to handball. Is there a different set of rules, if the handball is done by an offensive player, while attacking vs a defensive player.

For example lets say that as the ball drops into the penalty box after a cross over pass, just before the defensive player kicks it away, it falls onto the hand of an offensive player. Does it matter if the hand was extended or not?

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi
Law 12 was amended recently in that a goal cannot be scored by a player who handles the ball even accidentally in that goal scoring situation. IFAB the law making body felt it was unfair that a player should benefit from scoring a goal when the ball comes off a hand / arm even accidentally.

So in your example it makes no difference if the hand is extended or not by the player who scores the goal as the Law requires that a direct free kick for handling is called. If however the player was to subsequently pass the ball to a team mate then the referee has to judge whether the contact on the player's hand / arm was a deliberate action or not in the same way as any other handling.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

HI AEK,
Yes different criteria based on attack versus defend versus deliberate versus accidental

The LOTG were altered to make sure that NO goal would be granted to an attacking team if ANY ball /arm contact were to occur accidently prior to the opportunity just as if it was DONE deliberately.
A DFK out would be the correct restart.

If an attacker accidently handles the ball and the ball enters the goal or a goal immediately results from the advantage the goal would NOT count.
The restart is a DFK out
If an attacker accidently handles the ball and the ball does NOT enters the goal NOR is a goal scoring opportunity there to be capitalized on
Play continues!

If an attacker deliberately handles the ball and the ball enters the opposition's goal or a goal immediately results from the advantage the goal would NOT count.
The restart is a DFK out.
IT is likely the act of USB would result in a yellow card caution
If an attacker deliberately handles the ball and the ball enters their own goal or a goal immediately results from the advantage the goal would count.
IT is likely the act of USB could result in a yellow card caution
The restart is a Kick off


If a defender accidently handles the ball and the ball enters his goal the goal would count
If a defender accidently handles the ball and the ball does not enter his goal play continues

If a defender deliberately handles the ball and did not prevent the ball from entering the goal the goal would count although they could be cautioned for the USB of trying
If a defender deliberately handles the ball and prevents a goal or breaks up attacking play it is a DFK offence and subject to PK if within the PA
Caution show a yellow card for the USB of SPA
DOGSOH send off red card criteria could apply
Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Peter Grove

Hi AEK fans,
Yes there is in effect a difference in the law on handling for an attacker as opposed to a defender, but only in one specific situation, involving the scoring of a goal. The difference is that an attacker can be penalized for a totally accidental handball, if the ball goes directly into the goal from their hand or if it leads to a goal being scored by the same player, immediately after the ball touched their hand.

In the scenario you describe it would depend on what happened afterwards. If the ball went directly into the goal from the player's hand or if the player themselves scored a goal immediately after the ball touched their hand, a handball offence would be called and the goal would be disallowed, regardless of whether the hand was extended (or any of the other criteria for handling were met). The simple fact that the ball touched the player's hand resulting in a goal, either directly or scored by the same player immediately afterwards would be enough for it to be deemed an offence.

On the other hand if a goal was not scored directly or immediately then the normal criteria for deciding on a handling offence would apply, including whether the hand/arm position of the player was, in the words of the law, "a consequence of, or justifiable by, the player’s body movement for that specific situation", for instance.

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

See Question: 34839