Sunday’s Premier League matches saw several controversial handball decisions.
Liverpool felt they should have been awarded a penalty after Diogo Jota’s cross hit Gabriel Magalhaes’ outstretched arm. Michael Oliver’s decision not to award a spotkick was upheld by VAR, and Jurgen Klopp’s side fell to a 3-2 loss.
In Manchester United’s 2-1 win over Everton at Goodison Park, Marcus Rashford looked to have added gloss to the scoreline with a third, only for the goal to be ruled out for a slight brush of the ball on his arm.
However, in West Ham’s 3-1 win over Fulham earlier in the afternoon, Michail Antonio’s goal — despite looking superficially similar to Rashford’s — was allowed to stand.
It can be frustrating to find the current handball law unclear. This is how each decision was made.
What is the current law regarding handball?
In handball, the upper boundary of an arm should be in line with the armpit. Any contact below this line is considered a handball.
According to IFAB it is an offense if a person:
They deliberately touch the ball with their hands/arms, moving their arms towards the ball or moving their hand/arm towards it.
When the ball has made their body unusually larger, touches it with their arm or hand.
