QF 2: Les Bleues v La Résistance

[Incandenza]

Mewis playing everyone onside there

[Kevin S]

I think we're all in agreement that this match needs extra time, yeah?

[Janik]

Uhh...that was offside?

Just. Not a VAR decision though - the Assistant on the field gave it, albeit delayed until the end of the move so it would be reviewable, as per the new protocol. She either has eyes like lasers, or she made a lucky call.

[Felicity, I guess so]

Ou est le VAR..?

[anton pulisov]

Wow, french player could have played on with the ball in the box but decided to appeal for a handball instead.

[Patrick Thistle]

This is a great finish to the game

[ursus arctos]

We've certainly seen those given

[Levin]

How is that not handball when the Japanese one was?

[Incandenza]

Yep, would have been in keeping with other handball calls.

[Kevin S]

Rapinoe coming off. Is that... wise?

[San Bernardhinault]

That was totally a modern 2019 handball. I am pleased it wasn't given.

[Janik]

Mewis playing everyone onside there

And got immediately subbed! It was poor defensive organisation by Mewis, for sure.

[Janik]

That was totally a modern 2019 handball. I am pleased it wasn't given.

I think it was consistent with the new rules (and therefore earlier decisions) to say no foul. Her arms were hanging straight down by her side. They weren't up vertically or out horizontally.

[Patrick Thistle]

Dunn hasn't put a foot wrong.

[ursus arctos]

There was clear space between arms and her body. No one knows what making oneself bigger really means, but she could definitely have made herself smaller.

[Patrick Thistle]

Ugh. Playing it into the corner. Fucking anti-football.

[Janik]

The rules use the phrases up vertically or out horizontally. What they could say, but notably don't, is outside the frame of the torso.

[Patrick Thistle]

Well that's it then. France had a poor first half. Le Sommer took an hour to get into the game.

[Incandenza]

Henry salty

[Janik]

France will certainly claim they were hard done by on the handball call, mind. I presume French TV is already replaying it again and again...

[Kevin S]

Three players (Morgan, Rapinoe, White) all now on five goals.

[Janik]

Ugh. Playing it into the corner. Fucking anti-football.

Diving, faking injury (Mbock Bathy) and game management. The likely future of Women's Football as it grows and with it perspective is lost about the importance of sport (i.e. the path the Men's game has already trod).

[ursus arctos]

Janik, this is the wording that I've seen.

It is an offence if a player:
# deliberately touches the ball with their hand/arm, including moving the hand/arm
towards the ball
# gains possession/control of the ball after it has touched their hand/arm and then:
# scores in the opponents goal
# creates a goal-scoring opportunity
# scores in the opponents' goal directly from their hand/arm, even if accidental,
including by the goalkeeper

It is usually an offence if a player:
# touches the ball with their hand/arm when:
# the hand/arm has made their body unnaturally bigger
# the hand/arm is above/beyond their shoulder level (unless the player deliberately
plays the ball which then touches their hand/arm)

The above offences apply even if the ball touches a player's hand/arm directly from
the head or body (including the foot) of another player who is close.

Except for the above offences, it is not usually an offence if the ball touches a player's
hand/arm:

# directly from the player's own head or body (including the foot)
# directly from the head or body (including the foot) of another player who is close
# if the hand/arm is close to the body and does not make the body unnaturally bigger
# when a player falls and the hand/arm is between the body and the ground to
support the body, but not extended laterally or vertically away from the body

Explanation

Greater clarity is needed for handball, especially on those occasions when 'non deliberate' handball is an offence. The re-wording follows a number of principles:

# football does not accept a goal being scored by a hand/arm (even if accidental)
# football expects a player to be penalized for handball if they gain possession/control
of the ball from their hand/arm and gain a major advantage e.g. score or create
a goal-scoring opportunity
# it is natural for a player to put their arm between their body and the ground for
support when falling.
# having the hand/arm above shoulder height is rarely a 'natural' position and a
player is taking a risk by having the hand/arm in that position, including when
sliding
# if the ball comes off the player's body, or off another player (of either team) who is
close by, onto the hand/arm it is often impossible to avoid contact with the ball.

To me "laterally" is not exactly the same as "horizontally" - one could interpret it to be any extension "away from the body".

More importantly, the concept of "laterally or vertically" is used only with regard to a player falling.

My guess is that the referee concluded that the defender's arm was "close to the body and [did] not make the body unnaturally bigger", though I believe we have seen referees and VAR in this tournament reach a different conclusion in comparable circumstances.

[George C.]

Not a penalty, end of.

[Incandenza]

Still surprised Henry didn't get a card for this.

[URL]https://twitter.com/bubbaprog/status/1144711535530561537[/URL]