During the interval at the latest Woodley Band Concert, I was approached by a football supporter. ‘Can you tell me’, he asked, ‘what are the rules on handball these days? I answered, ‘I wish I could’.
I could tell him what it said in the Laws of the Game book, but after two law changes in quick succession on handball, it seemed that many players or even referees were not too certain anymore.
Years ago, I refereed on a Saturday and played hockey on a Sunday. The reason I mention this is because football has often followed hockey rule changes.
Now perhaps, football was again following hockey. Hockey fans know if your foot touches the ball, either accidentally or deliberately, you give away a free hit. In football, it started to seem that whenever the ball hits a player’s hand or arm, a free kick was given.
The reason for this I think, is that there are certain instances when the ball hits a hand or arm that should not be penalised, but these were not included in the latest version of the Laws.
If the ball comes off a player’s head, body or feet and hits their own hand or arm, this is not handball, but I’ve seen it given.
The same is true if a player is falling, and the ball hits their supporting hand or arm between their body and the ground. Only if the ball should go into the opponents’ goal or the player should score immediately, will there be a direct free kick for the other team.
Because of these and other omissions, I believe some referees and players felt that these instances are no longer valid.
A few days after my handball discussion, I was privileged to receive from David Elleray, who is Director of the Technical Committee of the International FA Board, footballs law makers, an on-line copy of a new book the Board has published entitled ‘ FOOTBALL RULES simplifying the Laws of the game’.
This is not aimed not so much at referees as at players and coaches with the view that if they understand the Laws better it could save a lot of aggravation that referees face.
I quickly viewed the section on handball, and there were the missing exceptions, plus one I have never seen before. If the ball hits a player’s hand or arm from a kick by a team mate, this is not an offence.
Mind you, we are still left judging whether a players’ hand/arm is in a ‘justified’ position, but I hope the new book does well.
By Dick Sawdon Smith
