Navigating the handball rules in football can be perplexing. Are you struggling to understand the nuances of the handball rule in football, especially with its varying interpretations and the impact of VAR? CAUHOI2025.UK.COM provides a clear, comprehensive guide to help you understand the current rules, their interpretations across different leagues, and potential future changes. Dive in to gain clarity and stay informed on this often controversial aspect of the game.
Understanding the handball rule in football can be challenging due to its complex and often subjective nature. This guide breaks down the current regulations, interpretations, and potential future changes, offering clarity for players, coaches, fans, and officials alike. Explore CAUHOI2025.UK.COM for more insights into the world of football and its ever-evolving rules. Enhance your knowledge with topics on football regulations, FIFA guidelines, and handball interpretations.
1. Football Handball Rules and FIFA Guidelines
The International Football Association Board (IFAB) is the governing body responsible for establishing and updating the Laws of the Game. These laws serve as the universal rule set for football leagues worldwide. According to IFAB, the upper boundary of the arm is in line with the bottom of the armpit. Diagrams are available in the Laws of the Game for further clarification.
IFAB defines a handball offense as follows:
- Deliberately touching the ball with their hand/arm (e.g., moving the hand/arm towards the ball).
- Touching the ball with their hand/arm when it has made their body unnaturally bigger.
- Scoring in the opponents’ goal directly from their hand/arm, even if accidental, including by the goalkeeper.
- Scoring immediately after the ball has touched their hand/arm, even if accidental.
2. Does Intent Matter in Handball Rules?
For defenders, the rule emphasizes that intent does not matter when determining whether a player has made their body unnaturally bigger while handling the ball. The Laws of the Game do provide referees with some discretion to judge intent and penalize a player for intentionally handling the ball, but the rules regarding a player making their body bigger and scoring a goal do not allow for inadvertent handballs.
The rule specifically states that players take calculated risks with certain movements, even if not done with the intention of handling the ball. By having their hand/arm in an unnatural position, the player assumes the risk of their hand/arm being hit by the ball and being penalized.
2.1. Exceptions to the Rule
There are two major exceptions to the rule. First, a specific exception exists for handball occurrences committed as long as a player’s body position is “a consequence of, or justifiable by, the player’s body movement for that specific situation.” This exception primarily applies to defensive players sliding to make a block.
Second, for an attacking player, intent does not matter for the goal scorer themselves. Any goal scored by a player who handles the ball in any manner whatsoever will be disallowed. However, in the build-up to a goal, any handball offense by a player other than the goal scorer must be considered “deliberate” for the goal to be disallowed.
3. Is it a Handball If the Ball Deflects off a Player’s Body?
According to the current reading of the rule, yes, a handball is penalized regardless of deflection off another player’s or the same player’s body. However, some leagues have varying interpretations of this rule, with some being stricter than others.
According to current Premier League guidelines, a deflection is taken into account if the ball comes off the same player or their teammate just prior to the ball striking the arm. In such a scenario, the rules regarding a “justifiable” position of the arm are greatly relaxed.
3.1 Premier League Deflection Guidelines
Premier League officiating chief Howard Webb cited an incident where Wolves defender Joao Gomes conceded a penalty for Luton Town. Under the new guidelines, the incident would not be ruled a penalty because of a deflection off a teammate’s knee which sent the ball up towards Gomes’ outstretched arm.
4. Is There a Ball to Hand Rule?
The way the law is currently written, there is no ball to hand rule. A defensive player assumes the risk of their arm’s unnatural position, and therefore ball to hand does not apply. A defensive player’s risk assumption predisposes him to the ball potentially being kicked into his arm without time to react, and therefore it would be a penalized offense regardless of their ability or inability to react in time.
However, some leagues issue specific guidance on this situation. For example, the Premier League’s 2024/25 guidance specifically indicates that proximity of the defender to the striking of the ball will matter when it comes to handball decisions.
5. Handball Rules Different for Attacker and Defender
The handball law is written in such a way that it creates separate applications for penalizing attacking players and defending players. Defending players are subject to all the previously discussed laws, attacking players are not. Instead, the rule is very simple for an attacking player — if the ball strikes a goal scorer’s arm while in the midst of a goal scoring move, regardless of arm position, intent, or any other qualifiers, a goal shall be chalked off.
5.1 Kai Havertz Goal Disallowed
Arsenal forward Kai Havertz had a goal disallowed against Aston Villa on December 9, 2023, because the ball ping-ponged around the goal mouth, first hitting into the hand of Aston Villa defender Matty Cash before striking the arm of Havertz. PGMOL chief Howard Webb explained that any handball offense by a player scoring a goal is deemed a foul, while defenders have a different threshold they must meet.
6. How Premier League Handball Rules Are Different
Ahead of the 2024/25 Premier League season, Premier League refereeing chief Howard Webb has issued a host of guidelines to referees and clubs on how handballs will be judged. The following factors would lean towards persuading an official to wave away handball protests:
- The player’s arm is in a justifiable position or action.
- The player plays a ball onto his own arm.
- The arm is supporting the body on the ground while sliding or falling.
- If a ball is played by a teammate onto their arm.
- Proximity from the defender to where the ball is struck.
Meanwhile, the following factors would lean an official towards giving a penalty for handball:
- Deliberate movement of the arm away from the body.
- Clear additional arm movement.
- An arm position which makes the body bigger and unjustifiable.
The Premier League has heavily stressed the introduction of the “referee’s call” concept, advising VAR officials to hold an extremely high threshold for changing subjective on-field decisions.
7. How UEFA Handball Rules Are Different
European governing body UEFA wishes to relax the whistling of handball offenses with regards to deflections, as well as relaxing the punishment for yellow and red cards shown.
The guidelines suggest that “no handball offense should be called on a player if the ball is previously deflected from his own body, and, in particular, when the ball does not go towards the goal.” UEFA also states that “not every handball should automatically lead to a caution after every shot at goal, as anticipated by the current guidelines.”
UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin stated that “nobody in the world understands when there’s handball or not” and suggested that referees should decide based on whether it’s a natural move or not.
8. Will the Handball Rule in Football Be Changed?
CBS rules analyst Christina Unkel believes that IFAB will issue new guidance on the handball rule. She stated that the rule as written has caused too many problems to remain as-is. Unkel speculates that IFAB will revert back to a more “subjective” rule which may be tougher to apply on a purely consistent basis, but will allow for an understanding that each decision in each moment is unique.
The Premier League and MLS have both issued guidance directing officials to shy away from giving penalties for handball incidents that immediately follow a deflection off a defender or their teammate unless the arm is in an exceedingly unnatural position.
FAQ: Handball Rules in Football
Q1: What part of the arm is considered handball?
A1: The upper boundary of the arm is in line with the bottom of the armpit.
Q2: Does intent matter in handball decisions for defenders?
A2: Generally, no. The focus is on whether the arm made the body unnaturally bigger.
Q3: Is a handball penalized if the ball deflects off a player’s body?
A3: According to FIFA, yes. However, leagues like the Premier League take deflections into account.
Q4: Is there a “ball to hand” rule in football?
A4: No, but some leagues consider proximity when making handball decisions.
Q5: Are the handball rules different for attackers and defenders?
A5: Yes, the rules are more lenient for defenders compared to attackers.
Q6: What is the Premier League’s approach to handball decisions?
A6: The Premier League considers factors like justifiable arm positions, deflections, and proximity.
Q7: How does UEFA interpret the handball rule?
A7: UEFA aims to relax the whistling of handball offenses related to deflections and reduce punishments like yellow cards.
Q8: What is the “referee’s call” concept in the Premier League?
A8: It advises VAR officials to avoid changing subjective on-field decisions unless there is a clear and obvious error.
Q9: Will the handball rule be changed in the future?
A9: It’s possible. Experts suggest IFAB may issue new guidance to allow for more subjective decision-making.
Q10: What happens if an attacker scores with their hand?
A10: The goal is disallowed, regardless of intent.
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