Referee Watch
SC Villa were left reeling after conceding a ‘dubious’ penalty that condemned the record League winners to their eight straight game without a win!
The contentious decision created outrage across social media by Villa fans with anger directed towards the day’s centre referee Rahuman Atiku.
The Incident – Events happened on Wednesday, February 16 during a matchday 18 StarTimes Uganda Premier League match between hosts Tooro United and SC Villa at Buhinga Stadium in the tourism city of Fort Portal.
In the 55th minute, SC Villa leading by defender Bernard Agele goal (3rd minute),
Tooro United player Hussein Mwanje made a swift turn in the box with a powerful shot that hit the hand of SC Villa left back Fred Agandu.
The referee did not hesitate, calling it an hand ball and handed Tooro United a penalty which Muhammad Ssenoga duly converted to draw the hosts level.
Video
After the video footage of the incident from league broadcaster Sanyuka tv, it turns out that the referee was seemingly harsh against SC Villa.
The ball hit the upper arm of Agandu, and the new rule is very clear on that – IT IS NOT A PENALTY!
What does the new rule say:
The International Football Association Board (Ifab), changed up the handball rule and stated that the boundary between the shoulder and the arm as the bottom of the armpit.
Anything below that and it’s a handball – whether intentional or not.
The rule also stated that its a handball if the incident happens when a player makes his body ‘unnaturally bigger’ and/or puts their arms above shoulder height.
Per the footage, the ball did not hit lower part of Agandu’s shoulder and neither did the defender made his body unnaturally bigger.
Even, Agandu’s hand was in it’s natural position.
The handball rule is all about the bottom of the armpit! The bottom of the armpit is the ruling, not the bottom of the t-shirt sleeve.
Handling the ball – An excerpt from IFAB
For the purposes of determining handball offences, the upper boundary of the arm is in line with the bottom of the armpit.
It is an offence if a player:
deliberately touches the ball with their hand/arm, including moving the hand/arm towards the ball
after the ball has touched their or a team-mate’s hand/arm, even if accidental, immediately:
scores in the opponents’ goal
creates a goal-scoring opportunity
touches the ball with their hand/arm when:
- the hand/arm has made their body unnaturally bigger
- the hand/arm is above/beyond their shoulder level (unless the player deliberately plays the ball which then touches their hand/arm)
The above offences apply even if the ball touches a player’s hand/arm directly from the head or body (including the foot) of another player who is close.
Except for the above offences, it is not an offence if the ball touches a player’s hand/arm:
- directly from the player’s own head or body (including the foot)
- directly from the head or body (including the foot) of another player who is close
- if the hand/arm is close to the body and does not make the body unnaturally bigger.
Match Officials for Tooro United Vs SC Villa:
*Referee – Atiku Rahuman
*Assistant Referee 1 – Agil Tonny
*Assistant Referee 2 – Kizza Aisha
*Fourth Official – Ainebyona Amon
*Match Assessor Ndawula Muhammed
