General Premier League Thread 2020-21 - Mod Notes in 1st post. [Updated 17/12/20]

gimli2112 wrote: »

Except for the above offences, it is not an offence if the ball touches a player’s hand/arm:

directly from the player’s own head or body (including the foot)
directly from the head or body (including the foot) of another player who is close

are refs ignoring this bit or do they have a different definition of close? The Dier and Lindelof penalties had the players in close proximity surely?

What is the new law?
It's not technically "new" as it has been in force across Europe last season, but the Premier League is now taking a more strict approach. So that means a player will be penalised for handball if:

- The hand/arm is clearly away from the body and outside the "body line".
- The player clearly leans into the path of the ball.
- The ball travels some distance.
- The ball touches a hand/arm that is clearly raised above the shoulder.
- The player falls and the hand/arm is extended laterally or vertically away from the body.
- A deflection clearly makes no difference to the ball touching a hand/arm that is clearly extended away from the body and/or above the shoulder.
- Immediately after touching the ball with the arm, even accidentally, the player scores a goal or creates a goal-scoring opportunity.


How has the handball rule changed?
Football's rulemakers, the International Football Association Board (Ifab), tightened up the handball rule in time for this season, defining the boundary between the shoulder and the arm as the bottom of the armpit.

Anything below that and it's a handball - intentional or not, it doesn't matter.

Ifab also emphasised a handball offence takes place when a player makes their body 'unnaturally bigger' and/or puts their arms above shoulder height.

It was also clarified that an "accidental" handball by an attacking player is only penalised if it occurs "immediately" before a goal or clear goal-scoring opportunity