What does immediately after mean?

[Ori]

I saw this video online and it raised a question which I’m sure has been discussed before.

Should this goal have stood? Is there any guidance on what handball immediately before scoring is?

7.2K views · 92 reactions | What’s your decision? | Behind The Whistle

What’s your decision?

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[Russell Jones]

I do find it interesting that when deciding ‘obviousness’ we have now been riven 5 factors to consider but with ‘immediateness’ we are left to our own devices!

For what it’s worth, I’d see the OP as immediate. But the video is great as it forces a choice around immediacy as there’s no way that should be called a penalisable handball otherwise

 

[one]

This is the only 'official' guidance we have. It is the explanation from the 2020/21 laws when it was first introduced. Though at that time, a team-mate handling was also included. I also think the OP is an offence.

 

[Ori]

I do find it interesting that when deciding ‘obviousness’ we have now been riven 5 factors to consider but with ‘immediateness’ we are left to our own devices!

For what it’s worth, I’d see the OP as immediate. But the video is great as it forces a choice around immediacy as there’s no way that should be called a penalisable handball otherwise

Yeah, I think the video should be disallowed, but it’s a tough call to make at lower levels.
I hate all guidance that is left to subjectivity. Handball has always been a problem. The problem is when they simplified it they all handball was an offence, the game didn’t like it. So we are back to subjectivity.

 

[Russell Jones]

Yeah, I think the video should be disallowed, but it’s a tough call to make at lower levels.
I hate all guidance that is left to subjectivity. Handball has always been a problem. The problem is when they simplified it they all handball was an offence, the game didn’t like it. So we are back to subjectivity.

But at least on 80+% of handball decisions it's a simple binary subjective decision between whether or not the hand / arm in question is in a natural position for the body movement being undertaken.

For me, the biggest handball issue is the vicious circle where players appeal EVERY time the ball hits the hand / arm ---> refs giving in to the pressure to award offences where there are none --> greater likelihood of future appeals etc. etc.

The only way we, as a community, break this cycle, is to bravely and repeatedly turn down the spurious claims for handball offences and to continually stress to players that (outside of the OP situation) gaining an advantage from an accidental HB is NOT an offence.