How have lawmakers made such a horlicks of handball?

IT IS there on the opening page of the International Football Association Board booklet. Beneath the heading, ‘The philosophy and spirit of the Laws’, is a simple statement. ‘Football must have Laws which keep the game fair, as a crucial foundation of the beautiful game is its fairness.’

So what happened? How is it that football now has laws that Jose Mourinho believes will stop people watching; that Peter Crouch says will hasten disillusioned players into retirement?

How have the lawmakers got handball so wrong? How have they moved so far from what was intended, sucking the very concept of fairness from the play? This is not about technology. This is about human beings operating without feeling for their sport.

Nobody who loves, understands or even appreciates football would come up with the handball law as it is. Nobody who plays the game would have disallowed Tottenham’s goal last week against Sheffield United.

Yet those who had the chance to address that issue chose not to. The laws are on the book for 202021 already, too late to change. There should be a revolt.

Next season, the only concession to the number of goals wiped off due to accidental, unavoidable handballs in the build-up play will be a tiny amendment to Law 12.

‘Accidental handball by an attacking player or team-mate is only penalised if it occurs immediately before a goal or clear goalscoring opportunity.’

No use to Tottenham, that. No use to West Ham, either, who were also poorly served by a handball decision against Declan Rice when playing at Sheffield United earlier in the season.

That ‘immediately’ is too vague. The ball kicked against Lucas Moura, who was falling having been fouled, went directly to Harry Kane, who scored. Rice was some 30 yards from goal, but ran on to provide the assist for Robert Snodgrass to score, too.

Both would count as events occurring immediately before a goal — certainly in the eyes of men as good as given the job of disallowing goals. That’s what VAR is. A goal eraser. It has disallowed 50 goals and counting this season, many for offences that would not have been spotted or raised a murmur of complaint previously.

The handball calls are the worst, though, because they are inconsistent. An attacking arm is active when a defensive arm is not. The concept of an accidental infringement is not applied.

Nobody would advocate for a repeat of Willy Boly scoring with a hand for Wolves against Manchester City last season. Yet if a handball would not be given against a defender, how can it be different for a player in an attacking position?

Had Moura’s offence happened in his own area, it would not have been a penalty. Why, then, is it a foul at the opposite end?

They could have made handball a black-and-white issue only if the ball is converted with the hand. All other instances would be subject to rational assessment about intent or seeking advantage.

But, no. The rules for next season ensure the potential for travesty remains.

IFAB have no concept of fairness, let alone an appreciation of the beautiful game.