In this section the handball rule is explained, including accidental handball before a goal is scored.
Definition of the hand/arm
For the purposes of determining handball offences, the upper boundary of the arm is in line with the bottom of the armpit.
Accidental handball before a goal is scored
It is an offence if a player scores in the opponents’ goal:
-Directly from their hand/arm, even if accidental, including by the goalkeeper
-Immediately after the ball has touched their hand/arm, even if accidental
Mitigating factors
-Goal not immediate
-Goal scored by a teammate
-Ball not entering goal; however action of a defender
results in an ‘own goal’
Contents:
VAR
VAR Improvement Plan
Decision-making process
What VAR cannot do
Threshold for VAR intervention
Attacking Possession Phase
Semi-Automated Offside Technology
Participant Behaviour Charter
Context for Change
Core Principles
Regulatory
Updates for Season 2024/25
Effective Playing Time – Allowance for time lost
Effective Playing Time – Calculation of Additional Time
Effective Playing Time – Delaying the restart
Effective Playing Time – Managing momentum
Handball – Interpretation
Holding
Blocking
Denying a goal or an obvious goal scoring opportunity
Penalty kicks
IFAB Trial
Additional Guidance
Decision-making principles
Offside – Delaying the flag
Offside – Deliberate play
Offside – Interference
Serious foul play
Violent conduct
High foot challenges
Challenges on Goalkeepers
Matchday Protocols
Multiball protocol
Substitutes warm up protocol
Concussion substitutions
Pre-match warm up protocols
Post-match warm down protocols
