Goal Disallowed for Handball: What Do IFAB Rules Say and What Happened in the Brazilian Serie A?
A controversial incident during the 25th round of the Brazilian Serie A match between Flamengo and Botafogo has reignited the debate over applying the handball rule to disallow goals. Botafogo forward Arthur Cabral celebrated a goal, but the play was invalidated by the referee due to a handball, prompting questions about the rule’s interpretation.
The rule in question, established by the International Football Association Board (IFAB), is clear in its application: any touch of the ball on the hand or arm of the player who scores a goal, even if unintentional, results in the play being disallowed. This guideline aims to maintain the sport’s integrity by prioritizing play with the feet.
Law 12’s Strict Application
Law 12 of the Laws of the Game emphatically states that a referee must disallow a goal if the ball touches the hand or arm of the player who scored it. The player’s intention is irrelevant; the mere occurrence of the touch is enough to invalidate the play.
This applies to scenarios where the ball touches an attacker’s hand, and then the same player subsequently puts it into the net. However, a distinction is made when the handball comes from a teammate. In such cases, the referee’s analysis considers other factors, such as proximity and the intentionality of the touch, which may allow the goal to be validated.
The Crucial Role of VAR
The Video Assistant Referee (VAR) plays a fundamental role in applying this rule, automatically reviewing all goals with suspected handballs. This technology helps reduce errors and controversies, though quick and unintentional plays can still spark debate among fans and experts.
The IFAB justifies the rule’s strictness by arguing that it preserves the essence of soccer as a sport played predominantly with the feet. Any advantage gained, even unintentionally, through the use of hands or arms is considered a deviation from the natural logic of the game.
Given the clarity of the regulation, teams and players pay close attention to training body positioning, especially arm placement, during shots to avoid penalties. Despite the clear guidelines, debate about the validity of goals disallowed for handball persists on social media. Nevertheless, the rule is applied uniformly across all official competitions, without exception, ensuring consistency in refereeing decisions. The M360 Team monitors the developments and application of these rules in major tournaments.
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