What Do The Rules Say About Militao Handball? Is It Exactly The Referee's Decision?

Eder Milato is considered to have handballed against Sevilla (SevillaFC_ENG)

JAKARTA - The referee's decision to award Sevilla a penalty in a match against Real Madrid at estadio Alfredo di Stefano on Sunday over Eder Militao's handball sparked controversy.

In the match that ended 2-2, when the score was 1-1 Madrid got a golden opportunity from the white point in the 75th minute. Benzema fouled Yassine Bounou in a one-on-one situation using a quick counterattack.

However, the penalty for Madrid was disallowed for a foul by the hosts. Militao was deemed a handball in his own penalty box when blocking a Sevilla corner.

The referee ruled Militao committed a handball violation in the box. Sevilla were awarded a penalty.

Ivan Rakitic, who came on as Sevilla's penalty taker, made it 2-1.

🤩 #FairPlay 🤩#RealMadridSevillaFC #LaLigaSantander #HayQueVivirla pic.twitter.com/HPeZS9pGWD

— LaLiga (@LaLiga) May 9, 2021

Madrid equalised in injury time of the second half. Kroos's shot from outside the box hit Diego Carlos' foot and turned the ball into sevilla's net. And the 2-2 scoreline lasted until the end of the game.

The referee's decision to declare Militao handball after seeing the VAR caused controversy as well as giving birth to a sharing of interpretations, and Radio MARCA's refereeing expert, Juan Andujar Oliver, expressed his opinion that the decision was not so clear.

Handball rules

FIFA rules state the basic principle of handball that "handball involves the deliberate actions of a player who touches the ball with his or her hand or arm" and the referee should consider the following:

- Hand gestures towards the ball (not the ball towards the arm)

- Distance between opponent and hand

- Hand position does not necessarily mean violation

- Touching the ball with hand-held objects (such as clothing, shin protectors, etc.) is a violation

- Hitting the ball with a thrown object is an offense.

The International Football Association Board (IFAB) also explained and stressed that the upper arm does not include handball.

When is there a violation, according to the rules of the game?

Considered handball if a player:

- Intentionally touching the ball with his hands/arms, including hand/arm movements towards the ball

- Score goals directly with their hands/arms, even if it's accidental

- Score or create chances as soon as the ball touches the hand/arm of the player or teammate, although accidentally

- Touching the ball with their hands/arms when the hand/arm makes the body abnormally larger

- Hands/arms are above the shoulders, unless the player deliberately plays the ball and then hits his/her hand/arm

However, it is considered non-infringing if the ball touches the player's hand/arm:

- Directly after hitting the head/body of another person played nearby

- If the hands/arms are close to the body and do not make the body abnormally larger

- If the hand/arm is positioned between the body and the ground when the player falls

Handball rules also apply to goalkeepers outside their penalty box. They were punished with indirect free kicks, but no other disciplinary action.