The game of football, as one of the most popular sports worldwide, has a unique set of rules and traditions. Among these rules, the question of whether a player can control the ball with his hands on the field of play is a topic of frequent controversy and discussion. This article will explain in detail the rules regarding hand touch in football and how they affect the game.
To be clear, football rules do not completely prohibit players from touching the ball with their hands. In fact, goalkeepers are allowed to touch the ball with their hands in their penalty area. When the ball enters the area where the goalkeeper is located, the goalkeeper can grab the ball with his hand, save the ball, or throw or kick the ball. However, once a goalkeeper leaves the penalty area and walks out of the free throw line with the ball, they can no longer touch the ball with their hands unless they return to their own free throw area.
For the rest of the players on the field, the rules are much stricter. According to FIFA's standard rules of play, players are not allowed to intentionally touch the ball with their hands or arms during the game, except for the goalkeeper who is in his penalty area. This rule means that if a player's hand or arm on the field makes any form of contact with the ball, the referee will usually award a foul. This foul is often referred to as "handball".
To determine whether a handball foul has been committed, the referee will consider several key factors. The first is intent: if a player does not intend to touch the ball with his arm or hand, such as inadvertently touching the ball during a fall, the referee may not award a foul. The second is the position of the ball: the ball must be outside the player's body, and if the ball is between the player's arm and body, this is not usually considered a handball foul. Finally, benefit is also an important consideration: if a player's arm touches the ball giving their team an unfair advantage, the referee may award a penalty even if there is no obvious chance of scoring.
It is important to note that these criteria are not absolute. In the actual game, the referee needs to make an instant judgment based on the situation. With the development of technology, auxiliary penalty systems such as Assistant Referees (VARs) have been introduced to help referees make more accurate decisions.
The consequence of a handball foul is usually to give the opponent a direct free-kick opportunity. If the handball takes place in the penalty area of the defending team, then the attacking team will get a penalty opportunity. A penalty kick is a direct shot from a penalty spot (11 metres from the goal) to the goalkeeper and if it is successfully netted, it can be scored.
If the handball is particularly obvious and is considered intentional, the referee may also issue a warning or send off the player for a yellow or red card. Such a penalty not only affects the trend of the game, but can also have an impact on the player's subsequent matches.
While goalkeepers are able to control the ball with their hands in certain areas, players in other positions on the field must follow strict rules to avoid handball fouls. These rules ensure the fairness of the game and add a strategic element to the game of football, requiring players to maintain a high level of concentration and technical control during the heat of play. Through an understanding of the rules of handball, we can appreciate the complexity and beauty of the game of football more deeply, while at the same time giving full respect and understanding to the players who demonstrate their great skills on the field.
In the history of football, there have been many great athletes who are known all over the world for their extraordinary skills and ability to score goals. Among them, although the situation of hitting the goal with his hand does not conform to the rules of the game, there is no shortage of people, and these moments often become a topic of conversation among fans and **. Speaking of this highly controversial way of scoring, we have to mention Argentine legend Diego Maradona.
On June 22, 1986, at the World Cup in Mexico, Maradona scored perhaps two of the most talked-about goals of his career. The first was the famous "Hand of God" goal. Against England, Maradona took advantage of a corner kick opportunity, jumped high and struck the ball into the net with the palm of his hand after making physical contact with England goalkeeper Peter Hilton. Although the goal was ruled valid during the match, Maradona himself later admitted that it was an intentional handball action. The controversy surrounding the event and Maradona's subsequent "Goal of the Century" have become one of the most talked-about moments in football history.