what is the handball rule in football

The handball rule in football means a player is penalized if they deliberately handle the ball with the hand or arm, or if their arm makes their body unnaturally bigger in a way that creates an advantage. A free kick or penalty may be awarded, and goals scored directly from an attacker’s hand/arm contact are usually ruled out.

How referees judge it

Referees usually look at:

• Whether the contact was deliberate.
• The arm’s position, especially if it is above shoulder height or making the body look unnaturally large.
• How close the ball was to the player when it was played.
• Whether the ball deflected off another body part first.

Common examples

• Usually handball: A player reaches out to block the ball with an arm or hand.

• Usually not handball: The ball accidentally rebounds off the player’s own body onto the arm, or hits the arm used to support the body.

• Attacking handball: If an attacker handles the ball and then scores or creates a goal chance, the goal is normally disallowed.

Simple version

If a player uses their hand or arm to gain an unfair advantage, it is handball. If the ball just brushes the arm in a natural, unavoidable way, referees often do not call it.