Question Number: 35855

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 1/6/2025

RE: amateur Adult

Pete Lee of Nottingham, Nottinghamshire United Kingdom asks...

Hi all, I was just wondering if someone could clarify something that happened at Eastwood vs. Hucknall Town at the weekend.

Hucknall scored a third goal. In the process, the defender on the line handled it to push the ball out, but the ball still ended up in the net.

I think it's a goal move-on, but a few supporters thought it should be a goal and a retrospective red card for handball on the line. My point was that for that to happen, the goal rule would have to be ruled out, the pen given, and the red card given.

There is a youtube clip, 2 mins in

https://youtu.be/AJH20YFVX3s?si=wRGO_4BYClAN4ruA

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Pete
Thanks for the question
As a goal has not been denied then there cannot be a red card offence. It is as you say would have been a red card had a goal been denied and a penalty awarded.

The Laws states that as advantage was played and realised by the referee on an offence for denying the opposing team an obvious goal-scoring opportunity, the player is cautioned for unsporting behaviour.

The video is not clear yet it does look like the referee goes towards the player in the goal area.

It is expected that the player should be cautioned yet a few referees might exercise some leniency on the matter such as perhaps a second yellow red card right at the end of the game or that the handling was not of a blatant manner such as what is now deemed a non deliberate handling.

One way or another it is not a straight red card.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

HI Pete
Well done, you are 100% correct, it is indeed a goal.

The foul restart is discounted -ONLY- because a goal resulted from advantage being played. Restart is now a KICK OFF.

The misconduct aspect of the foul for the USB of TRYING to prevent the goal via a deliberate handling action, the player COULD be cautioned & shown a yellow card ahead of the kick off. If the handling foul was a 2nd caution, only then, could a red card be shown.
If the handling was blatant, a reach out keeper type save attempt chances are a yellow card is appropriate, given your description it has that feel?

Mind you if the referee was inclined to simply warn or ignore it might be because the handing was seen as weak in the sense it was not the player's real intent and to caution PLUS awarding the goal. It might seem overkill particularly at match end or in a game long out of reach.
Cheers