WCQ 1 Croatia v Greece 2. North, Ireland v Swss

[Romanis]

Croatia are 2 goals up while it's still goalless in Belfast.

It would be great for the Ulstermen to qualify.

[Bloomeram]

Croatia are 2 goals up while it's still goalless in Belfast.

It would be great for the Ulstermen to qualify.

They don't look like they are going to do it. Swiss all over them..........................The ref can't be serious if he thinks that was a penalty, the guy had his back to the ball and struck him from just a few yards.

[macstheman]

Deffo not a pen!! Awful refereeing but NI were crap!! Swiss deserved to win and will go through!!

[Romanis]

2nd leg tonight. Can Greece spring a surprise or will the Croats progress? I think Greece will win but unable to overturn the first leg scoreline.

As the Irish, simple no, I think the Swiss will win 3-0.
Looking at the incident again, as a former referee myself, it's hand (whether at the back is irrelevant) to ball. Would I give it, well no, but was the referee wrong, answer is also no.

[mistaram]

Romanis You were a bit out with your score NI played really well unfortunate to go out Can't believe you thought that ref was right for a start it doesn't hit his hand it hits his shoulder It also has to diliberate how can it be diliberate when your backs to the ball Shocking decision very costly for NI in the end

[Romanis]

Romanis You were a bit out with your score NI played really well unfortunate to go out Can't believe you thought that ref was right for a start it doesn't hit his hand it hits his shoulder It also has to diliberate how can it be diliberate when your backs to the ball Shocking decision very costly for NI in the end

Yup my predictions and bets all screwed.
No I don't mean the referee was right to award the penalty, I'm saying he wasn't wrong.
And there's a difference. First when I was reffing, we were always taught, the arm is part of the hand. And it is.
Here the 2 questions to be asked is:

1 Was it ball to hand or hand to ball? It was hand (arm) to ball. Although one can argue it was reflex not deliberate.

Then we go next to:

2. Was it a shot on goal blocked by the hand (arm). Answer, yes.

So based on the Laws the referee wasn't wrong. I don't think he's been sanctioned by FIFA.

Now would I award a penalty, answer no. You have to be certain. Was it deliberate handball or was the shot certain to result in a goal had not been blocked? I believe the benefit of doubt has to go to the defender in the absence of clear intent.

So while he wasn't wrong in Law, he should not have awarded the penalty. 98 out of 100 referees won't award a penalty based on this. Take tonight's Italy v Sweden game, there were at least 2 good penalty shouts, but the referee refused to award the penalty.
Which on the balance of probabilities is correct, it would be too harsh a decision on the defending side