Question Number: 22887

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 3/2/2010

RE: U15 Classic Under 15

Larry Beguin of Swansboro, NC United States asks...

If a ball is struck by a player from either team while in the Keeper's box on the pitch, and that ball then strikes the arm of a defensive player, however inadvertant the touch may be, is such a touch considered a 'handball' and the attacking team awarded a penalty kick as a consequence?

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

Sure it's a handball, because that term doesn't really mean anything other than the ball and the hand somehow came into contact with each other.
What you are really asking: Is this the direct free kick foul of deliberately handling the ball. From your description that the ball struck the arm and the touch was inadvertant, probably not. If the ball played the hand, and there was no redirection of the ball, and the arm was not in an unnatural position or somehow made the player bigger, this is NOT deliberate.

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Answer provided by Referee Dennis Wickham

The answer comes from the name of the foul: deliberate handling of the ball. Purely inadvertent contact by the arm/hand with the ball, no matter how advantageous the ball may drop is never a foul.

In deciding whether the contact was inadvertent, the referee will consider whether the defender held the arm in an unnatural playing position, or otherwise made herself 'bigger' in order to control more space or deflect a shot or pass. If a player does something unnatural to gain a tactical advantage, and the ball does what the player hopes, the likelihood is strong that the player did it deliberately. The referee must decide whether it is deliberate or inadvertent.

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Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Larry
If a player deliberately handles the ball that is an offence. If the ball makes contact with the player's arm/hand and it is inadvertent/accidental/not deliberate then there is no offence. i would safely say that the vast majority of contact of the ball by the hand/arm is not deliberate.
In Europe UEFA the govering body of soccer states and I quote
''Although football is a game in which players constantly move their arms and hands as a natural part of their movement, it is recommended that in deciding if a player is handling the ball deliberately, it is essential to consider the following points:
# Was it a hand to ball situation or ball to hand?
# Are the player's hands or arm in a "natural" position?
# Should the player take the consequences of having his hand or arms lifted high?
# Does the player try to avoid the ball striking his hand?
# Is the player able to avoid the ball striking his hand?
# Does he use his hand or arm to intentionally touch the ball?''
It is up to the referee to decide and in many situations it is a matter of opinion.

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