| Soccer players primarily use their feet in a game, | | | | seem that the player deliberately handled the ball. |
| even though they may use other parts of their | | | | The position of the hand is also a contentious issue. |
| bodies to control and play the ball. In fact, the only | | | | Generally, referees call players for handling the ball if |
| body parts that a soccer player may not use is the | | | | they feel that players give themselves too much |
| hands and arms. Indeed, deliberately handling the ball | | | | width with the position of their arms (arms far away |
| is an infringement under soccer law. | | | | from the body). However, the position of the hand |
| Determining that a player deliberately handled a ball is | | | | away from the body does not automatically suggest |
| sometimes difficult. There are two noteworthy points | | | | that a ball was deliberately handled. Also, any attempt |
| about handball infractions:a) A player cannot use any | | | | by players to circumvent the law by touching the ball |
| part of his body, lower than his shoulder cuffs. By | | | | with an object held in the hand or hitting the ball with |
| definition, the hand includes the entire arm of a | | | | a thrown object constitutes a handball infraction. |
| player.b) The handball must be deliberate. Referees | | | | The handball infraction is controversial because there |
| do not call handballs that they consider accidental and | | | | is a grey area as far as the application and because |
| have guidelines for determining whether the handball | | | | some spectators and players feel that blatant |
| was deliberate.c) A goalkeeper can commit a handball | | | | contact with the hand is automatically a handled ball |
| infringement that leads to a direct free kick outside | | | | infraction. Technically, a player can attempt to |
| the penalty area, but not inside the penalty area. | | | | circumvent the law by always playing with his hand |
| However, he can concede an indirect free kick (for | | | | away from his body. If the referee feels that this is |
| e.g., if he handles a back pass from his teammate in | | | | merely an attempt to claim accidental handled ball, he |
| the area). | | | | has the right to call it (even if the player's hand did |
| Determining that the ball touched any part of a | | | | not move). |
| player's hand (or arm) is the simple part. What soccer | | | | A handball results in a direct free kick (or penalty kick |
| officials have to do is assess intentionality to | | | | if the infraction occurs in the penalty area of the |
| determine whether the hand making contact with the | | | | offending player). The following disciplinary actions |
| ball is actually an infringement. There are five basic | | | | apply:a) If the player uses the hand merely to gain |
| considerations that FIFA law instructs referees to | | | | control of the ball, that is a foul but misconduct is not |
| make.i) The movement of the handii) The distance | | | | necessarily determined.b) If a player uses the hand to |
| between the opponent and the balliii) Position of the | | | | prevent an opponent from controlling the ball or to |
| handiv) Touching the ball with an object held in the | | | | break up an attacking play by the opponent, that is a |
| handv) Hitting the ball with a thrown object | | | | foul with a caution for unsporting behaviour.c) A |
| Referees must first consider the movement of the | | | | player can be dismissed for denying a goal-scoring |
| hand. If the hand moves towards the ball, then a | | | | opportunity by committing a handball offence. |
| deliberate handball is likely. However, if there is an | | | | Given that soccer is not rugby or American football, |
| attempt to withdraw the hand from the ball, | | | | soccer laws expressly forbid the deliberate use of |
| referees may consider that. A stationary hand might | | | | the hand or arm by players other than goalkeepers in |
| or might not be called, but a referee would typically | | | | their own penalty area. Using the hand just to control |
| sanction a clear movement of the hand towards the | | | | the ball could be a minor infringement. However, if |
| ball. | | | | you do that when the ball was on its way to goal, or |
| Referees must also consider the time that the ball | | | | to deny a goal scoring opportunity otherwise - you |
| handler had to react to the ball coming towards him. | | | | may have an early shower! |
| The shorter the distance is, the less likely it would | | | | |