No more ‘Hand of Gods’ apparently. Well, that just means that the International FA Board has now decided to strict up the rules regarding handballs in certain situations.
The amendments are to come in to effect as the new season kicks off. Goals which are influenced by handballs would be disallowed and given a free kick against it regardless of intent
Ifab technical director David Elleray explained the changes at their AGM in Aberdeen.
“Deliberate handball remains an offence,” Elleray stressed.
“In the past we’ve managed to improve the laws by focusing on outcome rather than intent.
“What we are looking at particularly in attacking situations is where the player gets a clear unfair advantage by gaining possession or control of the ball, as a result of it making contact with their hand or arm.”
Another law that has changed is that a silhouette of a player will be taken into account for referees to judge whether something is a handball or not. If a player’s hands are extended away from the body, i.e. enlarging the silhouette from its natural shape , then it is a handball regardless of the intent.
“We’ve changed it to say the body has a certain silhouette,” said Elleray. “If the arms are extended beyond that silhouette then the body is being made unnaturally bigger, with the purpose of it being a bigger barrier to the opponent or the ball.
“Players should be allowed to have their arms by their side because it’s their natural silhouette.”