The handball debate MW1 → MW35

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Words appearing alongside "handball"

"Rules unclear / inconsistent"

• MW3+0.99First 60 minutes or so wasn't bad. Haaland could have scored more yes, but lots of players were slipping to start, and the first time he touched the ball was to try and push it forward and score at full speed, and I think that was clearly his best chance besides his goal. I know he often does score like that but that's tough. The other best chance was his header, but he got good power on it and put it on target, keeper made a good save though. Overall, obviously disappointing, but I think also somewhat unlucky. Khusanov really provides a presence in the middle that's harder for teams to simply play past us, great speed and strength and reads and tracks the ball well. That missed tackle was closer than it looked at first, and then that whole sequence with that and then the handball was kind of unlucky. Trafford- Better today, some good saves, but tended to boot it a bit under pressure, not sure I can blame him RAN- not as good today, lost possession a lot and challenges Khusa
• MW13+0.97​@Must_not_say_thatJust because you dont understand the law doesnt mean it wasn't applied, it would be classed as an attempted save and therefore still offside A player in an offside position at the moment the ball is played or touched* by a team-mate is only penalised on becoming involved in active play by: gaining an advantage by playing the ball or interfering with an opponent when it has: rebounded or been deflected off the goalpost, crossbar, match official or an opponent been deliberately saved by any opponent A player in an offside position receiving the ball from an opponent who deliberately played* the ball, including by deliberate handball, is not considered to have gained an advantage, unless it was a deliberate save by any opponent. A ‘save’ is when a player stops, or attempts to stop, a ball which is going into or very close to the goal with any part of the body except the hands/arms (unless the goalkeeper within the penalty area).
• MW7-0.95They will make fuck ass handball and offside rules but they won’t do anything to punish the blatant diving and time wasting ffs.
• MW2+0.95Clearly they've made a point that if an attacker is ever through on goal or just shoulder to shoulder with the defender they'll call a red for any miniscule contact where the defender doesn't get the ball first. It's not football to me but it's pretty black and white and the players just need to smarten up and trust their keeper. Better than the handball rules which seem to be a coinflip nowadays.

"Soft / never a handball"

• MW2+1.00Arsenal fan here - my analysis on the game * Amazing save by Raya to keep Leeds out * First goal by us was solid positioning but alot of luck as well * Second goal Saka did a powerful shot from a tough angle, keeper should of done better imo * Third goal, individual brilliance by VG great first goal for the club * Fourth goal, Scrappy goal, arguably could've been handball and should have been cleared * Fifth goal, Soft as butter although he did catch him and Refs will be looking after the young fella, i think he gets majority of 50/50 calls this season Overall playing at the Emirates, the day we unveil a very exciting signing, our first home game and off a lucky win last week, Leeds didnt embarrass themselves today by any means, in fact i think they can really build off that performance. I dont think they will come across a more hyped up and ready to win team like Arsenal were today. Good luck this season, always had a soft spot for Leeds, i think every Aussie does
• MW3+0.98Typical game at Anfield. Mosquera was incredibly solid. Decent performance by Madueke. Martinelli looks bereft of confidence and ability. Mixed performances from Rice and Zubimendi. Raya was good barring a moment if madness. Gyokeres seems to have decent acceleration but alarmingly slow top speed. Arsenal set up to do haram ball given that they were missing Saka and Odegaard and needed someone like Merino who knew the press to lead it else 3 of the front 4 would have been new and press even more disjointed. Handball penalty by Szbz not given. Which Szbz admitted that it hit his hand in the post match comments. Could have given a penalty for soft foul on timber. Would 100% have been bayed for by the anfield crowd and given if it was calafiori on salah. Referee turned off fouls by Liverpool. Just allowed to kick divets out of arsenal as much as they wanted. Clown substitution by Arteta bringing on Dowman. Just stoke football by Liverpool to win. Only launched long balls fr
• MW1+0.96I know it's a harsh one, but the way Tarkowski managed to make that handball look like the Steven Taylor one is amazing. Also Leeds were the much better side on the day so fair play to them.
• MW8-0.95@Youstillcracked Every season, I notice there's a tally of referee decisions for and against each team. Arsenal always seems to be near the bottom in terms of favorable calls. Why do you think that is? Is it because Arsenal fans are biased, or you are biased? Do you notice there was a handball after martinelli acrobatic shot? Do Arsenal fans cry for that? No because it’s soft. I understand your frustration Arsenal were extremely lucky to get 3 points from Man Utd. But did Cunha deserve a penalty when he was getting a ball facing backwards, and tried diving already from that position? That would have been soft as hell (if you know how to play ball). You are comparing wrong one bro

"Was it deliberate?"

• MW13-0.99@lioncookiejump1971 No it is not a penalty, it couldn't possibly be one. He stretched to intercept the ball and in doing so put his leg around the Bournemouth player knocking him to the ground, and in doing so overbalanced and fell to the ground himself. You can plainly see the Bournemouth player was knocked to the ground first. Because he did contact the ball it was not a foul. Of course he made a meal of clutching his leg as a pretence to obtain a penalty but you can plainly see he is holding the front of his leg on the shin when it was the back of his leg that he put in front of the Bournemouth player. It was a deliberate attempt to manufacture a penalty and unfortunately it worked. That is called cheating. Sunderland did a lot of that type of pretence to obtain advantage, including several shouts for handball. That is cheating and they are a dirty team. Bournemouth's response was understandable but not acceptable so perhaps they deserved to lose, sinking to the same low standard
• MW23+0.98https://preview.redd.it/9psrcmtkmjfg1.png?width=640&format=png&auto=webp&s=91c78178b37a785eb755bf5ac351935a7ed28911 *"First of all black lives matters, and thank you to all the nurses, the teachers, the plumbers, the garbage collectors, the bakers, the cleaners, but what i want to say Robbie is MACHESTTERUNITEDD YOU ARE A DISGRACE...YOUR A CHEAT, COME TO OUR DRESSING ROOM AND APOLOGIZE TO SAKA RIGHT NOW. Where were they we MASHED them up at Old Trafford?? Where were they when Wiltord scored the goal at their ground and we won the title??? That was a clear handball Robbie!!! NAAA NAA NAAAA that was a deliberate hand ball by Harry. Listen Robbie, Man City can still lose all their games and we can still win the title. WHERE ARE MANCHESTER UNITED IN THE TABLE??? WHERE ARE YOU NOW??? YOUR NOT CHASING US ARE YOU? Listen, we're gonna, we're gonna win the quadruple for the next 10 years!!"*
• MW23+0.97Disappointing to say the least but at least a team we dropped points against so did Man C. I felt they had a bit of "luck" go their way as well. Paul Tierney on VAR let them off what could easily have been 2 hand balls. If they had been given tv would have been trying to prove why that was the right decision and everyone would agree. For the Maguire one there is a small but obvious change of direction where his hand is heading when he's falling. If it's given the commentators are highlighting that and saying it's the correct decision. For the Dorgu one he sees the ball will hit him on the hip and puts his arm there so it's arm and hip which changes the direction the ball goes. Again if it's given tv shows that and explains that's why it's right. That's on tp of the last game where he clearly used his arm to stop the ball going out. The only excuse they could give is the ball still went out so they didn't gain an advantage but it was a clear deliberate handball. While we shouldn't
• MW13+0.97​@Must_not_say_thatJust because you dont understand the law doesnt mean it wasn't applied, it would be classed as an attempted save and therefore still offside A player in an offside position at the moment the ball is played or touched* by a team-mate is only penalised on becoming involved in active play by: gaining an advantage by playing the ball or interfering with an opponent when it has: rebounded or been deflected off the goalpost, crossbar, match official or an opponent been deliberately saved by any opponent A player in an offside position receiving the ball from an opponent who deliberately played* the ball, including by deliberate handball, is not considered to have gained an advantage, unless it was a deliberate save by any opponent. A ‘save’ is when a player stops, or attempts to stop, a ball which is going into or very close to the goal with any part of the body except the hands/arms (unless the goalkeeper within the penalty area).

"Natural / silhouette"

• MW30+0.96I don’t know why I’m not seeing more discussion of Thiaw’s “block” of Pedro’s shot. Yes he turned his back, but the shot was goal bound and it hit his hand extended out a good 6inches from his back. The handball rule need a lot more clarity about how to deal with goal-bound “incidental” handballs. He made his body bigger, and turned and extended what ended up being his hand into the ball. The fact his hands were behind his back before he turns shouldn’t let him make himself unnaturally bigger.
• MW8+0.96Var? The commentary always glosses over things like that against us and call it out massively against us. I'd love neutral commentators. All these united loving ones are insufferable. But then they've already let a handball penno go that was away from the body silhouette, and allowed play on with a head injury that led to a goal... We'll have to click. And go on a 20 game win streak regardless of all the things that go against us and retain it and then put one of these fingers on each hand up. Got to start playing faster though and moving the ball as it's too slow and predictable right now
• MW28+0.95Sorry but that second one was a joke hand by his side tried to turn his body and couldn’t get his arm in a more natural position that rule is a joke tbh if the arm is flailing or moving to the ball it’s hand ball what’s a brother to do if it’s tucked in and isn’t intentional, VAR just run by dorks who get wood having their little slice of power. Games gone!
• MW3+0.95Do the rules you’re asking me to read not state ‘makes the body unnaturally bigger’? I didn’t realise he was built like Eddie Hall. Distance from the ball & reaction time are not, for me, to be considered in this action as the ball has not been played in close proximity to Szoboszlai. It probably was a hand ball, odegaard dribbled the ball like he was LeBron from what I remember. The “VS us” is very telling. Your team won & you came to debate IFAB laws on the gunners Reddit. Go & enjoy the win

"VAR has made it worse"

• MW6-0.97The penalty appeal is difficult. The goalie didn't touch the ball and the Fulham player fell over him after pushing the ball away from the keeper and away from goal. You can argue the keeper brought him down but also that King did not have control of the ball. Probably therefore a yellow for the keeper would have been suitable. Manifestly absurd to give a yellow to King, that is obviously wrong. There is perhaps more of a case for the handball because although it was point blank range it was a shot that appeared on target so a penalty should have beren awarded. It is quite obvious that the officials are filthy corrupt and yet no one is holding them to account. They need to be sued, it only requires proof on a balance of probabilites and when they have to pay out large amounts it would probably curb their awful and flagrant corruption. As to VAR it is quite obvious that there is absolutely no need for Stockly Park. All that is needed is for the ref to go to the screen and review it
• MW8+0.96Var? The commentary always glosses over things like that against us and call it out massively against us. I'd love neutral commentators. All these united loving ones are insufferable. But then they've already let a handball penno go that was away from the body silhouette, and allowed play on with a head injury that led to a goal... We'll have to click. And go on a 20 game win streak regardless of all the things that go against us and retain it and then put one of these fingers on each hand up. Got to start playing faster though and moving the ball as it's too slow and predictable right now
• MW6-0.95I’ve followed Liverpool far too long for a loss to bother me, especially when based on that first half performance we should have been 4 down. What does annoy me is stupidity and Kerkez’s clearance was beyond stupid. You’re left footed, clear the ball with your left and don’t give them a throw in a dangerous area with 10 seconds to go. Of course, the game would have been over before that if Var didn’t take 2 minutes to look at a non handball. Again. Fuck VAR.
• MW1-0.94Bloody hell! Carra saying what the premier have released at half time as to why it wasn’t handball contradicts what he heard the VAR room saying during the incident whilst on comms is actually horrific, how’s that been brushed over?

"Scrap or rewrite the rule"

• MW32+0.95we need to get rid of all the caveating around handballs for penalties. Sick of all the cumulative layers of "yeah but intent" "yeah but natural position" "yeah but reaction time" all built atop one another very much in favour of something much more outcome-based, i.e. "if your team benefited from the hand contact, it's a foul. if it sent an off-target shot further wide, or helped the opposition get a toe on the ball, it's not"
• MW1+0.90This is probably my most unpopular opinion ever about football, but I genuinely think that it's ok for game state and subjective judge of the game to be OK when considering calls like this. Like, I'd be ok if this wasn't called a handball. The story would have been how Everton made an unbelievably lucky escape with a point after playing like the worst team in the league, and how unlucky Leeds are to have absolutely BATTERED an established PL side and come away without a win. Now, the only thing people are talking about is how the ref 'stole' the points from Everton. I would genuinely be more outraged if the same 50/50 call went the other way, because Leeds would be so hard done by. As long as the refs aren't so horrible as to remove all skill and team play from the game, I'm sort of OK with it -- same thing with the non red card call in the Bournemouth game. If that gets called a handball, the result is the same (Liverpool just kill them) but the game becomes an absolute snoozefe
• MW28+0.87@ChelseaFC They wanna scrap off the handball, but God is bigger than them! 💙
• MW23-0.81Could someone please tell me how can that have been a penalty for handball ? What the rule makers have done is allow attackers to deliberately hit the hand/arms of defenders . What are defenders supposed to do : cut off their arms ? Get rid of bl**dy VAR it’s ruining football . NB I am not a Palace fan

Most positive

• MW2+1.00Arsenal fan here - my analysis on the game * Amazing save by Raya to keep Leeds out * First goal by us was solid positioning but alot of luck as well * Second goal Saka did a powerful shot from a tough angle, keeper should of done better imo * Third goal, individual brilliance by VG great first goal for the club * Fourth goal, Scrappy goal, arguably could've been handball and should have been cleared * Fifth goal, Soft as butter although he did catch him and Refs will be looking after the young fella, i think he gets majority of 50/50 calls this season Overall playing at the Emirates, the day we unveil a very exciting signing, our first home game and off a lucky win last week, Leeds didnt embarrass themselves today by any means, in fact i think they can really build off that performance. I dont think they will come across a more hyped up and ready to win team like Arsenal were today. Good luck this season, always had a soft spot for Leeds, i think every Aussie does
• MW27+0.99First Slot win against Nottingham. Glad to pull off the win, but we did not deserve the win tbh. All around terrible performance. Bringing Chiesa and Rio in changed the energy. I love Salah, but to me it’s obvious that Rio just brings in more energy and stamina at this point. Would love to see them play 50/50 as subs for the rest of the season, but Salah’s stature probably won’t allow that. I don’t understand the handball rules anymore (did I ever?). Doest feel wrong necessarily that the first McAllister goals was ruled out, but it does feel inconsistent with other rulings and the defensive rules for handball. Thank god for that not-offside, and for Van Dijk. Defense was good today tbh, Konate as well. All in all I can’t predict how we will play anymore. Think we played good or great games against City, Brighton (FA Cup), Newcastle and the Champions League games but then you get matches like these where it seems like we are mid to low table team.
• MW15+0.99​@user-gz1sp9fx7g Gravenberch? 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂 that handball?? 😂😂😂😂 they were going to have another pen, and we all know Ali wouldn't save it yet again 😂😂
• MW26+0.99Liam 🔈"went from the sublime to the ridiculous" "This needs to hurt" For me it's a really good game but man we can't be dropping points like this when we have to just finish the game Palmer had a good game yes he missed a chance but it happens I'm a Chelsea fan and I'll speak without sentiment but I have a good faith in Liam Joao Pedro what a player Before the Leeds second goal tho our defense wasn't as bad as it appears to someone who didn't watch the game The momentum shifted after that penalty and to that I also have a conspiracy theory that the pl want to just f**k us up man because that was a handball and if we're true to ourselves that penalty for Leeds really if were us in their stadium won't be given that In all tho we move I watched the game I was happy until the draw I didn't watch again Maybe that's why palmer missed lol Lastly shout-out to Santos he's been an under looked on form player COYB💙💙
• MW4+0.98Ywah great game A game where the PL champions needed a handball to win against a championship side 😂😂😂😂 hikarious i love it
• MW23+0.98https://preview.redd.it/9psrcmtkmjfg1.png?width=640&format=png&auto=webp&s=91c78178b37a785eb755bf5ac351935a7ed28911 *"First of all black lives matters, and thank you to all the nurses, the teachers, the plumbers, the garbage collectors, the bakers, the cleaners, but what i want to say Robbie is MACHESTTERUNITEDD YOU ARE A DISGRACE...YOUR A CHEAT, COME TO OUR DRESSING ROOM AND APOLOGIZE TO SAKA RIGHT NOW. Where were they we MASHED them up at Old Trafford?? Where were they when Wiltord scored the goal at their ground and we won the title??? That was a clear handball Robbie!!! NAAA NAA NAAAA that was a deliberate hand ball by Harry. Listen Robbie, Man City can still lose all their games and we can still win the title. WHERE ARE MANCHESTER UNITED IN THE TABLE??? WHERE ARE YOU NOW??? YOUR NOT CHASING US ARE YOU? Listen, we're gonna, we're gonna win the quadruple for the next 10 years!!"*

Most negative

• MW26-0.99Absolutely fuming. Look, we dominated that vast majority of that game, and played some unbelievable football. But you can't throw away a 2 goal lead at home to a fucking relegation side. Unacceptable. One of the worst games I've ever seen Caicedo have. His braindead penalty gifted Leeds a lifeline. But oh my god, that equaliser might go down as the worst defending in Prem history. Every single player needs to hang their head in shame for that. Pathetic. That being said. Blatant handball in the equaliser. Completely ignored by var. But you knew after the recent hit piece against us and refs decisions going our way, that we won't get another in our favor this season. No matter how blatant. Then that miss from Palmer at the end. Almost no words for that. He was deservedly man of the match, but my word. He might not be able to live a miss like that down. Fucking horrible night.
• MW26-0.99Fucking tragic 20 minute spell costs us again. Clear handball in the build up to the 2nd goal but can't defend like we did. Caicedo reckless again. Acheampong shit. Subs were crap. Just a fucking awful end to the game. Zero excuses for dropping ponts from 2-0 up again Leeds of all teams. They had 2 fucking shots on target ffs. Palmer, mate, no words for that miss. So fucking annoyed with this result.
• MW13-0.99@lioncookiejump1971 No it is not a penalty, it couldn't possibly be one. He stretched to intercept the ball and in doing so put his leg around the Bournemouth player knocking him to the ground, and in doing so overbalanced and fell to the ground himself. You can plainly see the Bournemouth player was knocked to the ground first. Because he did contact the ball it was not a foul. Of course he made a meal of clutching his leg as a pretence to obtain a penalty but you can plainly see he is holding the front of his leg on the shin when it was the back of his leg that he put in front of the Bournemouth player. It was a deliberate attempt to manufacture a penalty and unfortunately it worked. That is called cheating. Sunderland did a lot of that type of pretence to obtain advantage, including several shouts for handball. That is cheating and they are a dirty team. Bournemouth's response was understandable but not acceptable so perhaps they deserved to lose, sinking to the same low standard in terms of the red card, except the penalty should not have been given.
• MW29-0.99I didn’t see it at the time (I was in the east stand upper) but i also didn’t see it when watching the highlights in real time, twice, until it was slowed right down. I guess it is a penalty. But who even knows anymore with the inconsistency of the handball rule. In any case, the fact that is a penalty and the choke slam on struijk isn’t is genuinely absurd. One is a random instinct reaction that didn’t have any intention behind it and didn’t even prevent them from getting the ball, the other would legitimately be classed as assault if it happened outside of a football pitch. I’m sick of the state of reffing, which seems to only have gotten worse with VAR. the ‘clear and obvious error’ shite obviously is absolute bollocks.
• MW32-0.98Rob Jones might as well be wearing a Sunderland shirt with all these shit fucking decisions. Stopping our counter for a handball that was off Muani's face is ridiculous. Wait for VAR to intervene you bellend because you sure as fuck didn't see it hit his hand. Still so annoyed that he gave possession back to Sunderland when our penalty was disallowed as well. How the fuck when the only outcome is either a Tottenham penalty, or a Tottenham corner, does it end up being a Sunderland uncontested drop ball? Rob Jones has had an absolute shocker and his decisions have massively influenced this game so far. Rob Jones you're a cunt mate.
• MW26-0.98Both goals are bull shit Moi doesn’t even touch him Clearest handball ever  Regardlesss no right to lose today no right- and not taking three points is a loss just when I thought Cole was gaining form he’s fucked 3 clear chances today if it was  garna he’d be getting cruscified so fucking disappointed and I feel bad for Liam and Andrey Disgusting, how am I supposed to say London is blue when we are drawing to a team arsenal beat 4 nil you know what I think I’ll take a break from watching games the next month cause if we can’t handle fucking Leeds then we can’t do shit as a club fucking disgusting