Doesn’t it need to be intentional to be an offence?

If his arm is not in an unnatural position, as was the case here, it’s only an offence if he’s handled it deliberately.

If he was attempting to block the ball with his body, but ballsed it up and it hit his hand, he hasn’t deliberately handballed it as there wasn’t any intent to do so.

All that matters really is that the rules are applied consistently, is this a situation though where VAR would have stuck with the onfield decision either way? Or is the prevailing view that this is deemed deliberate handball regardless of being sure that it was actually deliberate?

Posted By: SimonOTBC on August 19th 2025 at 15:38:12

Message Thread

The Leeds pen is a debate? (Other Football) - SCC 28, Aug 19, 09:31:00
- Doesn’t it need to be intentional to be an offence? (Other Football) - SimonOTBC, Aug 19, 15:38:12
  - Yes he intended to move his arm towards the ball (Other Football) - SCC 28, Aug 19, 20:11:11
    - The law literally says the offence requires it to be deliberate though (Other Football) - SimonOTBC, Aug 19, 20:30:33
      - Yes he moved his arm towards the ball (Other Football) - SCC 28, Aug 19, 21:34:03
        
        And yes not meaning to do it is irrelevant (Other Football) - SCC 28, Aug 19, 21:36:41
        
        What? (Other Football) - SimonOTBC, Aug 19, 21:52:47
        
        He intended to move towards the ball that’s it (n/m) (Other Football) - SCC 28, Aug 19, 21:56:52
        
        Deliberately moved towards the ball? (n/m) (Other Football) - SimonOTBC, Aug 19, 21:58:57
        
        100% (Other Football) - SCC 28, Aug 20, 00:18:43
- Not many on here to be fair. But the law is clear. (Other Football) - norwaay, Aug 19, 12:23:21
  - ‘leaning into it’ is not the same as ‘moving the hand/arm towards the ball’, obviously (Other Football) - Bertie Russell, Aug 19, 13:13:24
    - It is (Other Football) - SCC 28, Aug 19, 13:28:05
  - Chris Sutton said it was a scandal 🥴 (n/m) (Other Football) - SCC 28, Aug 19, 12:31:47
    - Professional provocateur. (n/m) (Other Football) - norwaay, Aug 19, 12:41:35
- Crystal clear (n/m) (Other Football) - Mark Barham, Aug 19, 10:43:44
  - Agreed mate (n/m) (Other Football) - SCC Sock Puppet, Aug 19, 11:49:11
- It's like saying there's no such thing as a foul if you're trying to get the ball. (Other Football) - lurd, Aug 19, 10:42:31
  - I will say he was a bit unlucky (Other Football) - SCC 28, Aug 19, 10:47:19
- Agreed (Other Football) - Nelsons final flanel, Aug 19, 09:50:13
- Yes 100% (Other Football) - JoeyDeacon, Aug 19, 09:39:43
  - Does the shot being on target make any differences, according to the laws of the game? (n/m) (Other Football) - Bertie Russell, Aug 19, 10:22:15
    - If it was a cross he’s trying to block, it’s still a penalty (n/m) (Other Football) - SCC 28, Aug 19, 12:39:00
- It was 100% a handball. (n/m) (Other Football) - BINMEN8R, Aug 19, 09:37:18
  - Rubbish . Years ago defenders never had to hide their hands behind their backs . (Other Football) - MORDENCANARY, Aug 19, 13:26:55
    - If that happens then yeah, shouldn't be a pen. (Other Football) - norwaay, Aug 19, 14:41:33
      - Can’t believe people don’t get this (n/m) (Other Football) - SCC 28, Aug 19, 21:37:27

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