A-League clubs seek answers as FIFA’s new handball rules spark furore
IT’S the talking point that has left coaches baffled, players irate, and referees caught in the middle as they grapple with a huge change in direction. VIDEO: TOP REF EXPLAINS NEW RULES
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The A-League has warned “there’s no black and white answer” to the controversial handball rule change that’s left coaches baffled and players and fans irate.
Clubs are fuming over what they see as identical incidents treated differently and it has descended to such a point that Wanderers boss Markus Babbel admits that “I don’t know what a handball is anymore”.
Anger over the change of interpretation has engulfed everywhere from the EPL to the A-League as FIFA’s efforts to clarify the rules look to have failed.
Under the new rules, incidents that only last season would have been a penalty – like the ball hitting Western Keanu Baccus on the arm last weekend in the derby – now aren’t.
Built in to the new rules, though, are huge amounts of leeway for referees to judge.
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A-League referees consultant Strebre Delovski believes not everyone appreciates how much the rules were changed in the off-season, or at least the “guidance” that FIFA has issued.
“The interpretation is massive, there is a big change there that people need to understand,” he said.
“It really revolves around whether you are making your body bigger (by where the arm is) – is the player making their body bigger, and is the arm in an unnatural position,” said Delovski.
“There's no black and white answer to that, it’s not a case of 5cm from the body or 10cm.”
A-League CEOs have held lengthy phone conferences with league officials all week after a series of contentious calls left them scratching their heads.
“For the referees, what is a handball, what is not?” Babbel said. “The rules are very difficult to say it clearly, it's very tough for them. I don't know what is handball now.
“At the moment we had a bit of luck – we got a penalty against Central Coast, you can say it was similar to the handball from Keanu (Baccus) in the derby (which wasn't given).”
Delovski attempted to quell the confusion in the seemingly similar situations.
“With the Keanu Baccus one, for instance, his arm was close to his body so under the new interpretations, this is not handball,” Delovski said.
“His chest moved towards the ball, and the arm has part of the body did too, but as it was close to his body, it's not a penalty.”
That’s not the only example of what clubs say are identical incidents being treated differently.
Dylan Fox was penalised for the Mariners in round one after the ball struck his arm; Leigh Broxham wasn’t for Melbourne Victory in round three.
Mariners CEO Shaun Mielekamp said he was glad that Delovski had been available to discuss the incidents, and said the clubs and A-League officials had to work together to ensure the rules are implemented in a common sense way.
“The challenge is to get the message and understanding out there, we have 6000 members and 15,000+ participants here on the Coast that want to know how this all is working – to have this football conversation can only be a good thing for the game,” he said.
“What I am passionate about is how we as a collective work together to ensure that the way we apply the rules and interpretation puts the game first as a product and experience for the fans and members as the priority.”
Babbel, though, struck a note that all sides could agree on.
“I'm happy that I don't have to make these decisions,” he said.