Handball Rule in Football Comes Under Scrutiny

The International Football Association Board (IFAB) and various leagues, including the Premier League and UEFA, are reviewing the handball rule in football, following a series of controversies and disagreements regarding its application.

The rule, which was introduced in 2019, has been criticized for a lack of clarity and consistency, which has led to confusion among players, coaches, and fans.

*Current Rule*

The current handball rule states that a player will be penalized if they deliberately handle the ball with their hand or arm, or if the ball touches their hand or arm and they have made their body “unnaturally bigger.” However, the rule has been interpreted differently by various leagues and referees, leading to inconsistent decisions.

*Premier League Guidelines*

Premier League has also published its own guidelines for the 2024/25 season, which emphasize giving preference to subjective considerations while deciding handball. The guidelines state that referees are requested to consider the position of the arm of the player, the direction of the ball, and the proximity of the defender to the ball while deciding.

*UEFA Guidelines*

UEFA also published its own 2023/24 season guidelines, which relax the whistling of handball offenses in the case of deflections. The guidelines state that no handball offense is to be awarded if the ball is initially deflected from the player’s own body, and that not all handballs are necessarily a caution.

*Possible Changes*

There are rumors that IFAB may publish new guidance on the handball rule early in 2024, following a consultation with stakeholders and football experts. The potential changes could see handball incidents considered more subjectively, with the particular facts of each case being considered.

*Expert Opinion*

CBS rules analyst Christina Unkel believes that the current implementation of the handball rule has been too problematic and that IFAB will release new guidelines early in 2024. Unkel believes that the rule has been made too objective and that there must be a more subjective criteria to account for the fluidity of the sport.