Arsenal / Chelsea Hand Ball

Originally Posted by Multiple Sports

It was pretty obvious from video replay that the hand ball committed by the Arsenal player didn't affect the ball a it wan't goin g to go into the goal. Is there anywhere in FIFA that allows them to use their discretion to change their call to a yellow. Seems a little harsh for a play wher there was no goal goingto be scored....

And not to mention that they got the wrong player.....

The Laws clearly say this is a foul for handling but does not specify whether the ball has to be going into the goal to call Denial of an Obvious Goal Scoring Opportunity due to Handling (DOGSO-H), which is a red card. The referee obviously thought this ball had some opportunity left and given where the handling occurred so close to goal, had no choice but to show red.

Given that the call was made by the AR or 4th official from a distance, given that Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Kiernan Gibbs look similar, and given that AOC was playing in Gibbs' spot as left-back, it is easier to understand how they got the number wrong. At the time of the handling, AOC and Gibbs were standing perhaps 5 feet from each other.