The new handball law in full
It is a handball offence if a player:
- deliberately touches the ball with their hand/arm, for example moving the hand/arm towards the ball;
- touches the ball with their hand/arm when it has made their body unnaturally bigger. A player is considered to have made their body unnaturally bigger when the position of their hand/arm is not a consequence of, or justifiable by, the player's body movement for that specific situation. By having their hand/arm in such a position, the player takes a risk of their hand/arm being hit by the ball and being penalised; or
- scores in the opponents' goal:
- - directly from their hand/arm, even if accidental, including by the goalkeeper; or
- - immediately after the ball has touched their hand/arm, even if accidental. (Barca's goal)
The law update also provided clarity on what constitutes handball, particularly on unnatural body position.
A player is considered to have made their body unnaturally bigger when the position of their hand or arm is not a consequence of, or justifiable by, the player's body movement for that specific situation.
To me, even I might be bias, but Dumfries' intention of playing the ball with eyes closed, diving in for the header in a natural body movement for that specific situation, like his hands didn't even move when the ball hit him.
The problem with this rule, is there are some degree of subjectiveness in it, which if people are dishonest, there will be a lot of problem.
Another example, is when someone falls and uses his/her hands to land, should be considered as
a consequence of, or justifiable by, the player's body movement for that specific situation.
I personally feel like it was a very competent ref, we got 1 offside goal and a potential penalty taken away too, harsh but right calls throughout the game, except Hakan did not handball at all if I saw it correctly.
10 years of FIFidk why Inzaghi sub De Vrij off for Acerbi, that was unnecessary and risky sub.
