TheBeautifulGame
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- 17 Oct 2022
- Messages
- 527
What you've highlighted there is that their guidelines appear to be somewhat in contradiction with one another. On the one hand it says in no uncertain terms that whether a handball that denied a GSO is a red card or not depends on whether it is considered deliberate or not.Anyone who understands the actual LOTG or has any understanding of the spirit of the game knows that the incident was a red card for DOGSO. The clarification you refer to even says "An offence committed outside the penalty area that denies a goal or an obvious goal-scoring opportunity will be a red card."
I do agree that the part that you quoted there would seem to suggest that any foul outside the box that denies an "obvious" goal scoring opportunity would be a red card no matter what. Though it doesn't mention a non-deliberate handball outside the box as part of that statement.
Part of the problem here is the confusion in the way that they have changed the wording of these guidelines over time. And as a reminder, these changes and re-interpretation of the handball generally is a direct response to VAR. Lets not forget that after VAR was introduced in the PL, it created a scandal by the way that they initially redefined what a handball was generally, leading to players essentially aiming for hands in the box and getting penalties for a period of time, until they realized how problematic that was and that whole idea had to be rethought. It also suggests that the penalty for a non-deliberate handball now requiring a caution would seem to be an upgrade from not requiring that in previous years.
But in any event, if we're to attempt to relate each of these guidelines to one another, does it make any sense that a non-deliberate handball that stopped a GSO outside the box would be more harshly punished in terms of carding than if it occurs inside the box? Forget the keeper for a second, lets say we're referring to an outfield player. So, he hands it just outside the box and he's sent off every time no matter what, but if he hands it the same way just inside the box he can stay on? Think about how absurd that sounds. But to your point, that is what they'd have you believe.
My point is simply that to anyone with an ounce of common sense, given the proximity to the edge of the box, given that he made a considerable effort to retreat backwards all the way back in before extending the arm out to swat it away at the last possible moment, that this should not be considered deliberate. If inside the box, a non-deliberate handball is a maximum of a yellow card, then why would it be an automatic red outside the box? That makes no logical sense. And, face it, this is what is confusing people and what has led to outrage. Language that would suggest one thing, with other language suggesting something else entirely. And this is why fans have no confidence in IFAB. Confusing and unclear language that is inconsistent with itself and open to interpretation.
In the case of the goalkeeper, there is no equivalent to a handball foul inside the box as it would be with the outfield players, so we're left to wonder how this should be applied. My point is simply that the guidelines make it clear that they differentiate between a deliberate and a non-deliberate handball on a denial of a GSO. If this applies to a handball inside the box then why would it not apply outside as well? One thing is clear. The way in which the rules and guidelines have changed since VAR have become hugely problematic. And much of it appears to be reactionary. From the sweeping changes initially when VAR was introduced, to the tweaks to the guidelines each year as a reaction to the problems that were observed due to their redefining of terms of like handball.
We also need to consider that much of their focus here is specifically designed for situations inside the box because that is what they are generally allowed to review. Since they're not allowed to "review" situations outside the box unless it rises to the level of a red card, and we're discussing what could certainly be described as a non-deliberate handball by the goalkeeper, then we're left with two sentences that don't specifically address a goalkeeper handball and at least to some extent directly contradict one another and don't make logical sense.
The reasons why people think it's a red card is because of misleading and unclear language, and the fact that they see it as a denial of a goal scoring opportunity. And I said I agreed that i thought it was a a denial of a goal scoring opportunity, however their language seems to suggest a high bar. It doesn't just say denial of a goal scoring opportunity, it says denial of an "obvious" goal scoring opportunity. I would submit that while we all agree it was, I wouldn't go as far as to say it "obviously" was.Give it up, man. Pretty much everybody else on the planet agrees with the red card, apart from the VAR who, even then, doesn't agree with your interpretation of non-deliberate.
This goes back to what clear or obvious is. Which is ironic because since VAR's been introduced they've been using the term as a basis for what gets reviewed yet they constantly review things that aren't clear or obvious.
So I don't see how any of us can have any understanding of what goes into their "obvious" DOGSO equation, let alone the deliberate or non-handball part of the equation which at least applies inside the box but maybe not outside. It's all a bunch of confusing contradictory short sighted bollocks if you ask me. And it's all a result of the negative affect that VAR has had on our great sport.