There was a contentious call in Birmingham City’s draw with West Bromwich Albion on Tuesday night
Birmingham City midfielder Paik Seung-ho is denied a goal by Callum Styles on the goal-line
Callum Styles says he wasn’t worried about conceding a penalty when Paik Seung-ho’s header hit his hand on the goal-line in Birmingham City’s draw with West Bromwich Albion.
Blues played out their first goalless draw of the season against Albion and rued a disallowed goal, two goal-line clearances and a catalogue of missed chances.
The most contentious call in the game, which Blues manager Chris Davies insisted should have been a penalty, saw Styles keep Paik’s goal-bound header out on the goal-line with a combination of leg and arm.
The ball hit Styles’ leg first before bouncing onto his hand. Albion goalkeeper Max O’Leary then palmed the ball away before Marvin Ducksch could prod home from close range.
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Speaking to Sky Sports afterwards, Styles said: “I knew it hit my leg first. It was just a reflex.”
A handball is only given if the ball strikes a player’s hand as a consequence of it hitting another part of the body if it leads to a goal being scored, hence why referee Adam Herczeg decided against awarding Blues a penalty.
The rule on the IFAB (International Football Association Board) states: “A handball offence is not committed when a player heads, kicks or plays the ball with another part of their body and it then hits their own hand/arm (unless the ball goes directly into the opponents’ goal or the player scores immediately afterwards).”
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