Question Number: 23808

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 8/22/2010

RE: rep Under 15

Jeff of Burlington, Onatrio Canada asks...

This question is a follow up to question 23778

The answers clarify my question, but also raises another question. It sounds that a deliberate hand that denies an obvious goal or goal scoring opportunity can be punished with a red card whether the ball is in or out of the 18. I was always under the impression it had to occur in the 18 but it sounds like the 18 is not relevant, just the action.

So, an out player who deliberately handles the ball that denies an obvious goal or goal scoring opportunity can be punished with a red regardless of their location relative to the 18. A Keeper who deliberately handles the ball that denies an obvious goal or goal scoring opportunity can be punished with a red card only if it occurs outside the 18.

Maybe this is a topic for another question but it is related so I will bash away; hand to ball versus ball to hand. Is ball to hand actually an offence. Ive seem situation where the player had no idea where the ball was and it hit their hand and they have been called.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Jeff
For an outfield player location is only a consideration in determining if it is infact an obvious goal or obvious goal scoring opportunity. It can be inside or outside the PA. In the case of a GK the GK cannot be sent off for touching the ball inside his PA but can be outside.

In relation to handling for the offence to be called it must be deliberate. This is what referees in Europe are advised
''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?
Referees are also reminded of possible additional circumstances and
consequences, e.g. How and where did the offence occur (stopped an
attack? Denied an obvious goal scoring opportunity?). They must then punish fully in accordance with the Law.

Answer provided by Referee Gene Nagy

Jeff, denying an obvious goal scoring opportunity (DOGSO) need not be in the penalty area (PA). If the attacker was going in the direction of the goal with only one player to beat, usually the goalie and he is fouled or the ball handled by a defender or goalie outside his PA, DOGSO applies. Take note of the word obvious. This is a judgment call made by the referee.
The key is intent. The referee asks himself: Did that player have any intent at playing the ball? It makes it easy for the referee to call a hand ball if the hand (up to but NOT including the shoulder) moves just prior the ball's arrival in such a way as to influence the trajectory of the ball. It is also easy to call a hand ball when the player 'makes himself bigger' and the ball hits his hand. Some of these calls are borderline and some are quite obvious.
In Fulham vs Manchester U., 2010 August 22 game, a ridiculous hand ball was called and a penalty awarded. The ball hit the Fulham players hand and it seemed he had no time to remove his hand from the ball's path. A PK was awarded to Man. U and quite rightly Man. U.'s shot was saved. I had the advantage of slo-mo and saw the defender had no chance of getting his arm out of harm's way. So even at the highest level mistakes are made but that's soccer!

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

The further away one is from the goal, the less obvious any goal-scoring opportunity will be. You may see someone sent off outside the penalty area in older youth games and certainly in adult games, but for the younger youth not much is obvious. The ball pretty much has to be stopped inches from the line before we know it was really obvious in a u-little game.

Beside ball-to-hand vs hand-to-ball, the referee has to consider the placement of the hands and arms. If the arm is outstretched, the player is 'making himself bigger'. In that case if the ball hits the arm, he has committed a deliberate act which resulted in the handling. This is most commonly seen when the player is facing the ball, but could happen in some instances when the player is not looking at play. For example, sometimes a player will line up in a wall facing away from the kick; if he extends his arms over his head to block more space it would be deliberate handling even if he didn't know for certain that the ball would hit his extended arm or not.

Answer provided by Referee Michelle Maloney

It's been said many times before, but referees tend to reflexively call any ball that hits a hand or arm, regardless of whether or not the contact is deliberate. This is unfortunate, and contributes to the popular misconceptions about what is or is not a deliberately handling the ball offense.

The Law doesn't say it is an offense if the hand touches a ball; it says it is an offense if the hand/arm deliberately touches the ball. When arms/hands are in 'unnatural' positions, for instance away from the body, the referee must judge whether or not the player is deliberately taking up space with his arms in order to change the trajectory of the ball.

But if a player, as you posit, has no idea where the ball is located, then the chance of him deliberately handling any ball that comes his way is pretty near nil.