Handball Rule

I think this is something that needs to change.

Seeing defenders run with their hands behind their back is actually putting them at a disadvantage. Let alone embarrassing.

I don't think there was an issue with a plethora of handball issues plaguing the football world where fans and players alike were clamoring for a rule change. In fact, I think a lot of unwarranted handballs are being given an causing more confusion.

Am I the only one here?

I think this is something that needs to change.

Seeing defenders run with their hands behind their back is actually putting them at a disadvantage. Let alone embarrassing.

I don't think there was an issue with a plethora of handball issues plaguing the football world where fans and players alike were clamoring for a rule change. In fact, I think a lot of unwarranted handballs are being given an causing more confusion.

Am I the only one here?

The refs, VAR etc need to remember what constitutes ball to hand.

The refs, VAR etc need to remember what constitutes ball to hand.

Far. But i feel like now we've all be taught that any time the ball strikes a hand it's worth a shout. The rule needs to be more clear ASAP. As it may ruin an entire season

wear a long sleeve jersey right down past the hand and you cant handball it with the sleeve rule

The rules around handball could change, but lets face it, it won't make the slightest bit of difference. The standard of officiating in the Premier League over the last few seasons has been nothing short of a complete shambles. Right now I'd say the English officials are right up there with the worst. VAR was supposed to make the game better and make the job easier for the officials but all it's done is highlight just how bad they actually are. The inconsistencies are shocking. So we can change the handball rule, you could get rid of the handball rule entirely and they would still make a mess of it.

That handball in the Dortmund Chelsea game was ridiculous. Defenders have to play with their hands behind their back now.
I dont understand why the rule was changed and everything has to be literal now. That would not have been given 5-6 years ago.

Its not as if there was an outcry in football about handballs being not given. If anything they should be making rules around Diving.

Diving has had more of a negative affect on football than anything.

That handball in the Dortmund Chelsea game was ridiculous. Defenders have to play with their hands behind their back now.
I dont understand why the rule was changed and everything has to be literal now. That would not have been given 5-6 years ago.

Its not as if there was an outcry in football about handballs being not given. If anything they should be making rules around Diving.

Diving has had more of a negative affect on football than anything.

Not sure what was worse the handball decision, or the decision to retake the penalty for player infringement when more Chelsea players than Dortmund had ran in to the box.

The referee in the Chelsea game last night was absolutely correct in the retake due to encroachment by the Dortmund players.
The real travesty was a penalty given in the first place, absolute joke really, A, what was the player supposed to do with his arm and B when you watch the replay his head was turned away from the attacker.
They need to sort this rule once and for all along with the offside rule, we live in hope.

It’s difficult to call. I used to be a referee once (was Stuart atwells assistant a few times) and I’ll tell you one incident that got me into trouble with one team once…

Was the last minute of a cup game… team red were winning and as team blue won a corner everyone went up for it except for one small defender who loitered near the half way line…
Anyway the ball was cleared and the line defender watched it as it sailed down from the sky but misjudged the bounce. Panicking that a red striker was gaining on him he handled it and then groaned in frustration when he realised he was about to give away a free kick and probably be sent off….
But I didn’t blow. Because in his frustration at handling the ball he volleyed the ball back into the sky….. but towards his own goal. I kept my whistle in my hand and watched as the ball bounced into his empty net and I so played the advantage and let the goal stand.

Anyway, the blue team all turned into Martin Keown and were bellowing in my face. Even more so when I decided that time was up and so blew the final whistle.

Ahh, good memories.

That handball in the Dortmund Chelsea game was ridiculous. Defenders have to play with their hands behind their back now.
I dont understand why the rule was changed and everything has to be literal now. That would not have been given 5-6 years ago.

Its not as if there was an outcry in football about handballs being not given. If anything they should be making rules around Diving.

Diving has had more of a negative affect on football than anything.

And it's been eliminated thanks to VAR. It still happens outside the box, but you won't get a penalty for that.

You can't fix the handball law. It's up to each individual ref to determine how much contact and context there is, to make a decision. But if the ball hits your hand, you are liable to concede a penalty, and once it's spotted as it is these days, you can't argue otherwise if it's given.

They did try to do something about it in 2019 with forwards, and it was applied consistently. But that was seen as too consistent, so the rule was adjusted again. Now it's up to what the ref thinks on the day, and some of them take a tougher line on it than others.

I think something like if the ball is hit and the distance to the hand is, say, a metre or so (maybe 2) then it should be an indirect free kick, even if it’s in the area.

And it's been eliminated thanks to VAR. It still happens outside the box, but you won't get a penalty for that.

You can't fix the handball law. It's up to each individual ref to determine how much contact and context there is, to make a decision. But if the ball hits your hand, you are liable to concede a penalty, and once it's spotted as it is these days, you can't argue otherwise if it's given.

They did try to do something about it in 2019 with forwards, and it was applied consistently. But that was seen as too consistent, so the rule was adjusted again. Now it's up to what the ref thinks on the day, and some of them take a tougher line on it than others.

Why can't you fix the handball law?

If that happened in 2018 that is not given as a penalty. And no one bats an eyelid. They've created this problem. Essentially now 'Ball to Hand' doesn't exist. If you are are running and your hands move with your stride like a normal person, it's considered hand ball.

But again. There wasn't a global footballing issue of handballs not being given. So I don't see why the change needed to happen.

Edit:

THIS was given as a penalty tonight.. COME ON??

https://twitter.com/musoniUTD/status/1635746693026140161

Another terrible handball decision
 
https://twitter.com/VWHPortsmouth/status/1639001609345835009

Why can't you fix the handball law?

If that happened in 2018 that is not given as a penalty. And no one bats an eyelid. They've created this problem. Essentially now 'Ball to Hand' doesn't exist. If you are are running and your hands move with your stride like a normal person, it's considered hand ball.

But again. There wasn't a global footballing issue of handballs not being given. So I don't see why the change needed to happen.

Handball has always been a topic of fierce debate. What is handball to somebody, is not handball to somebody else. Just take the WC final in 2018. Even now, nobody can all agree that the penalty given should have been or not. In the 2019 final in Madrid, even our fans argued that the penalty we got shouldn't have been given, even though it's a clear cut decision imo. It all depends on your tolerance of it, that varies from one person to another.

I liked the forwards rule. It was clear to everybody what would happen, if one of them handled the ball. Now it's back to interpretation. And debate.