Fernando Llorente handball: Should the Spurs striker’s goal have counted against Manchester City?

Fernando Llorente’s 73rd minute goal took Spurs to a 4-3 scoreline in the second leg of their Champions League quarter final against Manchester City, eventually granting them passage to the semi finals on the away goals rule.

However, the goal has been subject to much post-match debate. Llorente’s goal – an attempted header from a corner – appeared to go in off his hip after brushing his arm. The goal incident was reviewed by VAR and allowed to stand by referee Cüneyt Çakır.

This has led many City fans to claim the goal as a handball and has once again raised questions about the use of VAR in football, especially after Pep Guardiola’s side had a winner ruled out for offside via VAR in the dying moments of the match.

Read more: Was VAR correct to rule Sergio Aguero offside vs Tottenham?

Tottenham went on to lose the match 4-3 but go through to the second leg on away goals, with the score 4-4 on aggregate over the two legs.

The incident

Fernando Llorente heads in and now Spurs are on their way through!

A long wait…but VAR finally awards it!

What a finale we're in for now! pic.twitter.com/bAloLbgA5w

— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) April 17, 2019

The ball comes in from the corner and Llorente jumps to compete with Vincent Kompany for the header. Kompany misses, as does Llorente in a sense, as the ball bounces into the goal off his hip after scraping his arm.

What the rules say

Law 12 deals with fouls and misconduct, and the relevant passage for handball reads that a direct free kick will be awarded if a player handles the ball deliberately (other than the goalkeeper in the penalty area):

Handling the ball involves a deliberate act of a player making contact with the ball with the hand or arm.

The following must be considered:

the movement of the hand towards the ball (not the ball towards the hand)

the distance between the opponent and the ball (unexpected ball)

the position of the hand does not necessarily mean that there is an offence

touching the ball with an object held in the hand (clothing, shinguard, etc.) is an offence

hitting the ball with a thrown object (boot, shinguard, etc.) is an offence

Given Llorente’s body position, in which he is clearly competing for the header and misses, it’s hard to argue that the positioning of his hand is a deliberate attempt to handle the ball, even if the incident resulted in a goal.

However, under rule changes to come into effect next season, Llorente’s goal would not stand as any goal to occur after a ball has hit a player’s hand will be ruled out.

Reaction

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Speaking after the game, Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola said: “I support VAR, but from one angle Llorente’s goal is handball.

“I am fine for the fair decisions, the fair football. The referee must be helped.”

His opposite number Mauricio Pochettino said: “The decision to include VAR in football is going to change the game a little bit. I am pro the basis and trying to help the referees and maybe one year ago I was a little bit worried.

“Today my feeling is the same, when it is for you you need to accept. When it is against you, you need to accept.”

Read more: Fernando Llorente and VAR give Tottenham win over Manchester City in inconceivable classic

Pundits Rio Ferdinand and Glen Hoddle reviewed the footage for BT Sport after the match. Rio Ferdinand said: “That’s off his arm. I think it’s hit his arm.

“I’m just saying that the ball has hit his arm, then it’s up to the referee to determine whether it is handball or not.

“I think it’s handball, honestly. I’m not gutted he’s given the goal, but I think it’s handball.”

Glen Hoddle disagreed, saying: “I think if it hits his arm it doesn’t go in with that power. It’s gone off his hip, off a hard part of his body.”

Others also voiced their views on the incident on Twitter:

Asked Fernandinho for a word in the mixed zone. He gave me two: “Fuck VAR.”

— Simon Mullock (@MullockSMirror) April 17, 2019

If the pundits/experts are still debating/disagreeing whether Llorente handled the ball or not that suggests no ‘clear & obvious error’ in giving goal

— Sam Wallace (@SamWallaceTel) April 17, 2019

Here’s the rule change for next season which will clarify the handball rule – and would clearly rule out Llorente’s goal. #mcfc #THFC pic.twitter.com/mBYptAyrYb

— Stuart Brennan (@StuBrennanMEN) April 17, 2019

Cakir‘s „Why are you showing me this?“ reaction summed it up. Whether the ball touched one elbow hair before bouncing off Llorente‘s hip is completely immaterial.

— Raphael Honigstein (@honigstein) April 17, 2019