RadioTimes.com has rounded up everything you need to know about the handball rule and its use in 2023\/24. <\/p>
The handball rule, on the surface, seems like one of the simplest aspects of football \u2013 just don\u2019t use your hands as an outfield player, right?<\/p>\n
But in reality, it remains one of the most contentious and confounding issues in the game.<\/p>\n
At every level, from the World Cup final to Sunday league, it\u2019s a topic that never fails to stir up debate and spark controversy.<\/p>\n
Football\u2019s decision-makers \u2013 the International Football Association Board (IFAB) \u2013 have tried to tweak and fine-tune the handball rule over the years in a bid to provide as much clarity as possible, but those changes often have the adverse effect \u2013 leaving players, fans and sometimes even the officials scratching their heads.<\/p>\n
But, luckily, we\u2019re in the business of demystifying the beautiful game and arming you with what you\u2019ll need to end any debate among your friends.<\/p>\n
RadioTimes.com<\/a> has rounded up everything you need to know about the handball rule.<\/p>\n Read more football features: Best players in the world<\/a> | Best players of all time<\/a> | Live football on TV today<\/a> | Premier League TV schedule<\/a> | Championship TV schedule<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Put simply, the handball rule is in place to stop a player from gaining an advantage by playing the ball with their hand or arm<\/strong>.<\/p>\n If they\u2019re adjudged to have done so by the referee, a free-kick or penalty can be awarded against them.<\/p>\n A deliberate handball will usually result in the offending player being shown a yellow card, but if they\u2019re deemed to have stopped a goalscoring opportunity, then a red card can be given.<\/p>\n There are two key things that have to be clarified before we move on to the specifics.<\/p>\n The first is that, in relation to handball, the boundary between the arm and the shoulder, which the ball can legally be played with, is in line with the bottom of the armpit.<\/p>\n The second is that it is not an offence every time the ball touches the hand or arm of a player.<\/p> According to Law 12.1 of the IFAB rules, it is a foul if a player deliberately touches the ball with their hand or arm \u2013 usually by moving their hand or arm towards the ball.<\/p>\n It is also a foul if the contact comes as a result of a player trying to make their body unnaturally bigger. This is a regular point of contention, so to quote the laws: \u201cA 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\u2019s body movement for that specific situation.<\/p>\n \u201cBy 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.\u201d<\/p>\nWhat is the handball rule?<\/strong><\/h2>\n