Referee Review
Why was this decision made?
See the key points from a referee’s perspective
Show explanation
Referee Review
Why was this decision made?
See the key points from a referee’s perspective
Show explanationHow the footage and Laws apply
There are two things to look at in this scene. The first is the handball offence. The ball struck the arm from close range in open play, but looking at the position of the arm, it can be seen that the player was making their body unnaturally bigger and forming a block. On that basis, the decision of a handball offence appears to be a very reasonable one. The second is the referee's movement. As the corner kick came in, the referee watched the flight of the ball and the players' positions, taking small steps to prepare the best possible view. It is likely that this preparation is what allowed the referee to judge the handball offence correctly. It was an excellent decision, with preparation leading to an accurate call.
Relevant Laws
Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct (Handling the ball) / Law 5 - The Referee (Positioning)
Official references
Check the wording of the Laws
The links above lead to official IFAB and JFA resources. The application of the Laws to this incident is the author’s analysis and is not an official view of IFAB, JFA or the competition organiser.
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