Ok, so let's tidy up the mess. Is it your opinion - regardless of the rules - that when the ball hits a hand it is handball, whether deliberate or not?
In my humble opinion-
handball is handball if it gives you an advantage that you would not have got if the ball continued it’s natural path
Last night Thiago’s fall clearly stopped the ball from squirming free in the crowded penalty area - so accidental or not I feel Liverpool gained an unfair advantage from that situation.
I guess what I am trying to say is I would like some common sense attached
if the exact same thing as last night had happened on the goal line stopping the ball on the line what would have been the decision ?
When we had the ball to hand rule and Robbie Keane handled on the line completely by accident for spurs - a pen was awarded and he was sent off - which was not in line with the current rule at the time but because it happened on the goal line and the ball was clearly going in the ref made a judgement call.
On that one I thought it should have been a penalty goal but no sending off - but that rule doesn’t exist. Just like when Suarez saved the shot in the World Cup for me - a goal should have been awarded and Suarez sent off.
I don’t think the current rule surrounding handball is for for purpose.
I feel there needs to be wording relating to probable outcome.
I have seen pens given when someone has taken a wild shot that is flying out of play and the player has jumped using their arms for leverage
No opposition players in the immediate area and ball going into row d - just cause it’s hit a hand a penalty is awarded. Common sense dictates nothing could have happened 100% but yet pen is given. I think that could be stopped too. maybe some sort of indirect free kick ?
I can’t answer your question directly but I have tried to explain my way of thinking.
if you are forcing a yes no answer - which is not really fair here imho I would say yes if a ball hits a hand then a handball should be given for every single offence because at least then it’s fair and clear.
however I believe that would be abused massively which is why I would like to see the circumstances come into the consideration as a factor.
when you look at other sports these are all over the place - high tackle in Rugby - stuff like that.
I know this is another topic almost but if the ref was on a microphone last night
He could watched the monitor and told everyone what he saw and why he was making the decision.
if a ref had said last night that he can see Thiago has kept his arms in a natural position and fallen but he has however stopped the ball from possibly travelling to the opposition and therefore gained an advantage. I feel that would be a fair out come
equally if a player is on the by line and running away from goal and chips the ball onto someone’s hand then a ref would be able to explain why that shouldn’t be a pen.
again just how I think it should work because I don’t think it was fair on West Ham last night.
I just thought it was an interesting discussion
