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Laporte's arm had a material affect

1 min read

Laporte's arm had a material affect


Checking-Goal

Everyone is going to talk about VAR, which is here to stay. It has certainly created talking points, but I don't hear many of the discussions that are really accurate or correct.

If the ball hits the hand or arm and a goal results, then it is disallowed and a free-kick awarded. That is the rule.

No dispute there, but what I am not hearing is that the ball changed direction, thus had an impact on the subsequent goal as it took the ball nearer Gabriel Jesus and away from Tanguy Ndombélé. There is so much discussion whether this is right or not that this significant point is being overlooked.

It hit his arm and nobody noticed, but it had a material effect on what happened afterward. It is quite probable that had it not hit his arm Ndombélé would have got to the ball first or at least managed to get goalside.



You'll note where number 28 is, that Tanguy Ndombélé and Jesus is the player who has run off him, Tanguy is concentrated on the ball and the ball does not continue its path towards him, it goes in between the two, which is towards Jesus.

Look at the 6-yard line. In Pic 1 where it is in relation to the ball and in Pic 2.It has clearly been knocked towards the 6-yard line and towards a Manchester City player. Laporte's arm has had a material effect.

Love it or hate it, VAR isn't going anywhere.

1 comment

  1. It's also important to note that the new interpretation is not necessary for the handball to be awarded. If a player moves towards the ball, as Laporte clearly did, and allows his hand or arm to make the only contact, then that's a deliberate handball - and has been since before I can remember.

    A bit like fouls. The jump at Lloris was probably a very fair attempt to head the ball. nevertheless he was late, missed the ball, and hit Lloris instead. That's why the awarding of a foul there was correct, and I generally believe keepers are overprotected. Laporte played the ball with his arm. It's considered to be deliberate in spite of the term being construed by many to be limited to meaning consciously moving the hand towards the ball with the considered aim of touching it.

    That is not an interpretation that is consistent with the further clarification found in the rules. Nevertheless it seems to be the only one understood by so many - particularly including TV pundi…