Whad'ya Know?

Reaching for the Sky

There is really only one issue here, since it is obvious to everyone in the stadium that the ball hit the player's arm, which is by definition part of his "hand".

This is covered in Law 12, Fouls and Misconduct: "A Direct Free Kick is also awarded ... if a player ... handles the ball deliberately".

Now, most of us are acquainted with the rule of thumb: "Did the Ball play the hand, or did the hand play the ball?".  The idea being that if a player made no movement with his hand or arm and was struck by the ball, that this is not a hand ball (and by the by, gaining an advantage has nothing to do with anything - that's Offside you're thinking about). 

I am sure every last one of us would blow the whistle and call this a hand ball (after all, what was the player doing - asking permission to go to the bathroom?).  The point is that the movement does not have to be at the instant just before the ball arrives - in this case the player put his arm in an unnatural position so as to handle the ball - he just did it several seconds before the ball arrived.

Lest this seem like a silly example, think back to the 2002 World Cup Quarter Final game between the United States and Germany.  During a set piece a German defender stood next to the near post.  When the ball was put into play the German goalie, Oliver Kahn, could not handle it cleanly.  It bounced out to an American player who shot the ball.  It hit the defender's arm and did not go in.  The Referee, Hugh Dallas of Scotland, did not blow the whistle.  If you watch a replay of this situation look at the defender's arm.  It clearly does not move, but you may well decide it was in an unnatural position away from his body.  Interestingly, practically everyone in Germany felt a hand ball should have been called, but the reaction in the United States was much more accepting.