One of the most discussed decisions on the football field is about the rule of handball. Each referee must exhibit rigor and clarity when it comes to determining whether the ball was played illegally by a player's hand or arm. Here is a summary of the decision-making method for the referee, illustrated by a specific diagram.
How to decide if a handball is committed?
1. Ball deviated from body to hand/arm When the ball hits a player after it has been deviated from his/her body, the referee must determine if the deviation has changed direction of the ball or not.
If the ball continues in the same direction: the decision will depend on the position of the arm. If the arm is too far away from the body, it could be considered a handball.
If the ball changes direction: This increases the probability of a handball because the referee could judge that the hand or arm influenced the movement of the ball.
2. Ball stopped by hand/arm If the ball is stopped directly by the player's hand or arm, it is clearly a foul, unless the arm is in a natural position and the action was not intentional.
Practical Illustration
In the image above, the referee analyzes a situation where a player appears to be involved in a game of handball. Depending on the deviation of the ball (blue and green), it will be necessary to determine whether the ball has changed direction (yellow and red arrows) to decide whether the handball is validated or not.
Conclusion
A referee's decision-making is not just about the ball and hand contact. Ball direction, arm position, and intention are key elements to consider. These decisions, although sometimes difficult, are crucial to maintaining the integrity and fairness of the game.