Because refs aren’t mind readers

So how do they assess whether something was “deliberate”?

One of the things they consider is whether the arm was not where you’d expect it to be, unless the player was intending to intercept the ball. So the position of the arm is evidence of the intention.

Posted By: Old Git on May 11th 2026 at 18:03:26

Message Thread

On penalties and handballs - a better solution (Other Football) - Tricky Hawes, May 11, 15:06:28
- doh - continued (Other Football) - Tricky Hawes, May 11, 15:11:25
  - I think the current rule is fine, but applied badly (Other Football) - jamesward, May 11, 16:16:41
    - disagree with this quite a bit (Other Football) - Tricky Hawes, May 11, 16:59:41
      - Because refs aren’t mind readers (Other Football) - Old Git, May 11, 18:03:26
        
        Always used to be the rule (Other Football) - Tricky Hawes, May 11, 18:26:32
        
        I think if your arm is above your head it’s handball (Other Football) - jamesward, May 11, 18:40:19
  - A lawyer writes: (Other Football) - Old Git, May 11, 15:51:16
    - We'll have to agree to disagree (Other Football) - Tricky Hawes, May 11, 15:55:58
      - Well I guess if you added on “deliberate” as well as “unnatural it might help (Other Football) - Old Git, May 11, 15:59:45
  - The default starting position should always be that it isn't handball (Other Football) - mr carra, May 11, 15:26:57
    - Yep, agreed (Other Football) - Tricky Hawes, May 11, 15:41:04
      - You never used to see defenders put their arms behind their backs. (n/m) (Other Football) - MORDENCANARY, May 11, 15:59:46
        
        I think it’s a good thing that they do that (Other Football) - Old Git, May 11, 16:02:57

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