The International Football Association Board (IFAB) has announced a major change to the handball law that will come into effect from the start of July.
Football’s leading lawmakers have now confirmed that because the interpretation of handball incidents have “not always been consistent” in the sport, the rule has now been altered.
A statement from the board read: “Accidental handball that leads to a team-mate scoring a goal or having a goal-scoring opportunity will no longer be considered an offence.”
Members have decided that not every touch of a player’s hand/arm in the build-up to a goal will be pulled back for a foul, or disallowed after going to the Video Assistant Referee (VAR).
In terms of whether a player makes themselves “unnaturally bigger” and the ball strikes their hand/arm, that is still down to the official’s judgement.
The statement goes on to say: “Following this clarification, it is a handball offence if a player: 1. Deliberately touches the ball with their hand/arm, for example moving the hand/arm towards the ball.
“2. Touches the ball with their hand/arm when it has made their body unnaturally bigger. A player is considered to have made their body unnaturally bigger when the position of their hand/arm is not a consequence of, or justifiable by, the player’s body movement to that specific situation. By having their hand/arm in such a position, the player takes a risk of their hand/arm being hit by the ball and being penalised.
“3. Scores in the opponents’ goal - directly from their hand/arm, even if accidental, including by the goalkeeper, or immediately after the ball has touched their hand/arm, even if accidental.”
The changes to the handball law come into effect from July 1, so after the Premier League season concludes, but competitions can introduce them sooner - if they wish.
The Premier League could choose to bring in the rule change for the remainder of the 2020/21 season, but that is yet to be confirmed.
It seems more likely that it will affect Leeds United next season, as players and managers continue to keep up-to-date with numerous rule alterations.
