Handball – a ref’s-eye-view
Posted on | May 25, 2009 | No Comments
On Wednesday Barcelona face Manchester United in the Champions League final to decide who will be crowned kings of Europe this year. But many Chelsea fans think their club, and not the Spanish champions, should be facing the red half of Manchester following several rejected penalty appeals for handball in a tempestuous semi-final.
Here English official Andy Telford, a level seven Cheshire FA referee, gives us a ref’s-eye-view of what really is, and what really isn’t, a handball when it comes to the rulebook.
The 17 laws of football are really quite straightforward when read but it is the interpretation that makes it difficult and leads to controversial decisions.
Everyone will have their own opinion because it is their own interpretation of the laws – therefore even with bias taken out of the equation, mine, yours and the referee’s may all be very different.
In the law book given to all referees over half the book is interpretation and guidelines. As part of this section, the handball section of law 12 reads:
‘Handling the ball involves a deliberate act of a player making contact with the ball with his hand or arm The referee must take the following into consideration:
-the movement of the hand towards the ball (not the ball towards the hand)
-the distance between the opponent and the ball (unexpected ball)
-the position of the hand does not necessarily mean that there is an infringement’
As a referee you must take into account law 18 which I have learnt is the most important law.
What is it you ask?
Law 18 is common sense. It about using the laws and making decisions based on them but also using common sense.
My personal take on handball anywhere on the pitch is:
-does the player move his hand towards the ball?
-does he try and move his hand away from the ball?
-is he genuinely trying to ‘cheat’?
At the end of the day we must accept that whatever the decision; handball, goal, penalty, – referees make mistakes like players do.
Lets take an example. Say a centre half passes the ball to the keeper but fails to see the prowling striker who goes on and scores. This will be in the press next day and then will often be forgotten.
But if an assistant or referee makes a mistake it can be talked about all season, probably because the referees and assistants have such influence on the game.
Related Posts;
What is ‘deliberate’ handball?
Tags: barcelona > champions league > chelsea > handball > Manchester United > referee
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