Quote Originally Posted by SmiffyPie View Post
There is no ball to hand excuse for an attacking player
"Defending players are subject to all the previously discussed laws, attacking players are not. Instead, the rule is very simple for an attacking player — if the ball strikes a goal scorer's arm while in the midst of a goal scoring move, regardless of arm position, intent, or any other qualifiers, a goal shall be chalked off."
There is no excuse no, but - everything else being equal - if there are mitigations and no condemning actions (and arm to ball would be a condemning action, while deflecting from body to arm is a clear mitigating action), you can see why the ref might hesitate.

And the quoted text goes beyond what the rules say, which is a handball offence is committed and the goal disallowed if a player:

scores in the opponents’ goal immediately after the ball has touched their hand/arm, even if accidental

The laws give no guidance as to what "immediately" means, and referees seem to differ as to whether it's the next action, all part of one specific ongoing action, or as long as the attacker has the ball somewhere vaguely threatening. I think under the third interpretation it's definitely handball, under the second might be, and under the first I don't think so - he's facing away from goal at the moment the ball hits his arm.

Seems like refs generally hate the vagueness of several parts of the HB rule.