Hand ball ruling - It's time for change

[Isitbecause]

Surely the powers that be need to seriously look at this in greater detail and amend the law. Anybody in their right mind know that their hands are at the end of their arms!

In my opinion, outfield players should be allowed to use any part of their body bar their "hands" to control the ball. This would cut out part of the decision process for referees as to whether the ball has hit a players hand or arm/shoulder/chest. All the ref would need to decide then was whether it was deliberate or not. Quite simple really when you think about it.

Your thoughts please.

[Kaisy353]

True although using your arm would be like another leg or something. still they need to make the rule more clear....

[Scotty Walds]

You'll get players elbowing the ball... anywhere from the elbow to the hand should be handball, IMO.

[piratescotty]

I think the other way round would be better.

Just cut out the use of any part of the body bar the player's feet...And maybe head.

[MUFC_Boydie]

Bollocks. Whats the point in goalkeepers when all the players can save goal-line incidents with their arms?

This is called football for a reason.

[oggie efc]

this s an extract from the laws of fotball,

'Law 12 clearly states that a Direct Free Kick should be awarded to the opposing team if a player handles the ball DELIBERATELY (except for the goalkeeper within his own penalty area.)

A penalty kick is awarded if a defending team player deliberately handles the ball inside his own penalty area (except for the goalkeeper within his own penalty area).

Deliberate handball means that a player intentionally moves his hand or arm towards the ball, and could have avoided touching the ball, but decided not to. It is unfairly done to prevent an opponent from gaining possession of the ball, because the perpetrator is unable to play the ball in any other way - and therefore stops or deflects the ball by the use of one, or both hands or arms, punches it, or catches it.'

[Dutch Don]

The rules for handball often arise discussions as well: when is it a yellow/red or nothing? The rules are quite clear though:

Non-deliberate handball: no foul, so no free-kick and no card
Deliberate handball which does not deny a direct goal-scoring opportunity: direct free-kick and yellow
Deliberate handball which does deny a direct goal-scoring opportunity: direct free-kick and red

A direct free-kick in the box is automatically a penalty obviously. There are no different rules for goalkeepers as soon as they are out of the box!

There are 2 main mis-interpretations that happen a lot:
-a handball by a goalkeeper out of the box is simply a yellow if it does not deny a direct goal-scoring opportunity (a lot of people think that a handball by a goalkeeper is always a red)
-a non-deliberate handball that does prevent a direct goal-scoring opportunity, is NEVER a direct free-kick/penalty or a card, so a non-deliberate handball on the goal line means that the game goes on

Sometimes discussions after a match can be so funny.

[MUFC_Boydie]

I dont see what is so wrong or unclear about these rules...If people bothered to actually look them up then there would be no need for moronic threads like this.

[prolifik]

Originally Posted by Dutch Don

The rules for handball often arise discussions as well: when is it a yellow/red or nothing? The rules are quite clear though:

Non-deliberate handball: no foul, so no free-kick and no card
Deliberate handball which does not deny a direct goal-scoring opportunity: direct free-kick and yellow
Deliberate handball which does deny a direct goal-scoring opportunity: direct free-kick and red

A direct free-kick in the box is automatically a penalty obviously. There are no different rules for goalkeepers as soon as they are out of the box!

There are 2 main mis-interpretations that happen a lot:
-a handball by a goalkeeper out of the box is simply a yellow if it does not deny a direct goal-scoring opportunity (a lot of people think that a handball by a goalkeeper is alway a red)
-a non-deliberate handball that does prevent a direct goal-scoring opportunity, is NEVER a direct free-kick/penalty or a card, so a non-deliberate handball on the goal line means that the game goes on

Sometimes discussions after a match can be so funny.

It's amazing how many people don't seem to know that handball has to be deliberate based on the laws of the game.

[LapinQuiFume]

Originally Posted by prolifik

It's amazing how many people don't seem to know that handball has to be deliberate based on the laws of the game.

Well what is confusing in this case is that you now see referees giving hand-balls when it was clearly unintentional. And you see defenders crossing their hands behind their backs so as not to get the ball blasted against their hand unintentionally.

I agree though that it should only ever be given as a hand-ball if it is deliberate, but that is not the way it seems to often be enforced.

[Godders9]

Is there a problem with the current ruling then? I don't see masses of discussion around dodgy handball decisions so surely there's big fish to fry? i.e. goal-line technology?

[m.oneillAVFC]

Originally Posted by Isitbecause

Surely the powers that be need to seriously look at this in greater detail and amend the law. Anybody in their right mind know that their hands are at the end of their arms!

In my opinion, outfield players should be allowed to use any part of their body bar their "hands" to control the ball. This would cut out part of the decision process for referees as to whether the ball has hit a players hand or arm/shoulder/chest. All the ref would need to decide then was whether it was deliberate or not. Quite simple really when you think about it.

Your thoughts please.

As dumb ideas go this is up there.Imagine the volleyball like slams into the net from corners.This FOOTBALL!

[Bundy]

Don't see what's wrong with the ruling as it stands. It's really quite clear.
Maybe the OP means deciding whether a driver deliberately raised their arms to handle the ball. In that case I'd say in the majority of cases it's quite clear if the player has moved their arm/hand toward the ball

[TAFKAP]

Originally Posted by oggie efc

this s an extract from the laws of fotball,

'Law 12 clearly states that a Direct Free Kick should be awarded to the opposing team if a player handles the ball DELIBERATELY (except for the goalkeeper within his own penalty area.)

A penalty kick is awarded if a defending team player deliberately handles the ball inside his own penalty area (except for the goalkeeper within his own penalty area).

Deliberate handball means that a player intentionally moves his hand or arm towards the ball, and could have avoided touching the ball, but decided not to. It is unfairly done to prevent an opponent from gaining possession of the ball, because the perpetrator is unable to play the ball in any other way - and therefore stops or deflects the ball by the use of one, or both hands or arms, punches it, or catches it.'

This is where the rule falls down, for me.

Since the direction of travel of the ball is affected when handled, regardless of intent, I believe a free kick should be awarded. The only reason a differentiation should be made is when deciding whether or not to caution the offender.

[StretfordEnd]

Originally Posted by TAFKAP

This is where the rule falls down, for me.

Since the direction of travel of the ball is affected when handled, regardless of intent, I believe a free kick should be awarded. The only reason a differentiation should be made is when deciding whether or not to caution the offender.

But then if a forward deliberately kicks the ball at the defender's arm from 2 yards away, the defender doesn't have time to react yet the direction of the ball would be altered. We'd be seeing 2 or 3 penalties every game.

[Gloria Lestafan]

The rules definitely need to be looked at the whole "deliberate" thing is too vague and is often ignored by referees.

[Dutch Don]

Originally Posted by StretfordEnd

But then if a forward deliberately kicks the ball at the defender's arm from 2 yards away, the defender doesn't have time to react yet the direction of the ball would be altered. We'd be seeing 2 or 3 penalties every game.

Agreed. I think the rules should stay as they are, IMO you can't punish a player when a handball is not deliberate.

[Swede69]

The Law seems to be ambiguous anyway.

If that is to be adhered to then surely a vast majority of penalties awarded for such an offense would not be so.

Oggie posted that law #12 and there is no way that 95%+* of players penalsied for handball in the penalty are deliberately do so.

* not sure of the actual number but I'd hazard a guess it will be upwards of that figure.

[Blackburn Nath]

If you properly understand the hand ball rule and as posted earlier read the Rules and Regs of a handball. Then you will agree that the handball rule is fine the way it is. In defence of referee's, they get 1 look at a handball in real time. How hard is that to judge!

[saint_clark]

I think it's quite clear. Hold your arms at your side - anything between your armpit and your fingertips is hand ball.
Well, that's how I see it anyway.