Question Number: 35663

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 8/19/2024

Barry Stewart of Chilliwack, BC Canada asks...

This question is a follow up to question 35660

Thank you for the responses.

I look forward to seeing video examples of non-deliberate handling. We all know what cynical or tactical handling looks like.

For all other hand/arm contact, the challenge is now for refs to determine the line between accidental and "non-deliberate." I see that non-deliberate handling can be a send-off offence, in DOGSO situations outside the PA.

Thanks for your continued support of officials, worldwide.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Barry
Thanks for the reply.

When I think about this it reminds me of the handling on the line by Harry Kewell of Australia against Ghana in the 2010 WC. The referee awarded a penalty and sent off Kewell for denying an obvious goal.
Now Kewell had his arm at his side and his eyes were closed. Is that deliberate or non deliberate? I believe it s considered non deliberate.

https://youtu.be/lxfcNKMdb_0?si=IN-lWO5kaaPkMQv2

Previously this had to be a dismissal . Now there is discretion due to it being interpreted as a natural position of the arm just making the player bigger yet I can see this being interpreted differently and perhaps the expectation is still red for denying a goal.
Handling both deliberate and non deliberate outside the penalty area which meets all the DOGSO conditions will still continue to be a red card.
So handling has been brought into line with the genuine attempt to play the ball where a penalty has been awarded.

The furore in the Spain v Germany game where the penalty was not awarded also springs to mind.
https://youtu.be/JEDOC_97Heo?si=EjrPa2KUfHw9DbCH

So handling remains one of the toughest decisions for referees to make and while discretion is given on the sanction it is still going to be inconsistent.