TV Angles Did Not Show It, But Handball Was The Correct Call

by Scott Kessler on May 4, 2011 9:00 PM EDT in Editorials

The Sons of Ben call for a handball call on San Jose defender Jason Hernandez. (Photo courtesy of ABC6 and MLS)

Mark Geiger has been much maligned for his refereeing decisions during the Philadelphia Union's game against the San Jose Earthquakes last Saturday, but there was one important call he got completely correct. Geiger's handball call on Earthquakes defender Jason Hernandez was absolutely legitimate, despite the fact that almost anyone watching the game couldn't tell if it was or not.

When the Union's defensive midfielder Amobi Okugo split two San Jose defenders, he pushed the ball to the end line. At almost the last opportunity possible, Okugo attempted to cross the ball towards the center of the Earthquake's box. His cross began its ascent into the center of the eighteen, Hernandez slid to attempt to knock the ball out for a goalkick, or in the very least diffuse a potentially goal threatening situation.

Union and San Jose players waited for the cross to come in, as Okugo looked onward and Hernandez ended up parallel to the edge line of the eighteen's right side. As the ball came towards the end line, it had a slight curl to it and went directly towards the middle of the sliding Hernandez.

At that point, the ball's landing spot on Hernandez cannot be ascertained by someone who was not in sections 133-138. The angle from most of the River End allowed fans to see where the ball actually hit Hernandez, which makes it remarkable that Geiger was able to make the correct call.

Despite Hernandez making sure to keep his arms towards his body, his hands were up. From the River End it was clear that the ball had struck one, if not both, of Hernandez's hands. The section of fans that had a direct look ahead at the play all leaned forward, slapping their forearms to appeal to Geiger to make the call. Okugo rose up, doing the same.

Geiger pointed to the penalty spot right away and Sebastien Le Toux sent Earthquakes goalkeeper Jon Busch the wrong way and gave the man down Union a 1-0 win.

After the jump, what the play looked like for a TV viewer.

Here's how it looked on TV:

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Comments

atleast you gave a good article to read on brotherly game to take some pain away from the flyers game reminding me of that win. still cant see the handball from that angle though. looks more like he was hit in the head

by Rhayes on May 4, 2011 9:24 PM EDT reply actions

Like I said, TV angles don’t provide the proper reference point at all. It’s too bad there wasn’t a camera behind the goal.

Managing Editor for Brotherly Game, SBNation's Philadelphia Union blog and contributor for SBN Philly. // @scottdkessler
"College is only 4 years, but the Eagles are for life." - Ironhank

by Scott Kessler on May 4, 2011 10:29 PM EDT up reply actions

I'm sorry, there's no way that's a penalty

I think that’s the definition of ball-to-hand.

Editor/writer at Sounder at Heart, MLS editor SB Nation. Follow me on Twitter

by Jeremiah Oshan on May 5, 2011 2:12 PM EDT reply actions

Here's what it looked like.

That’s a hand ball. Hands/forearms in an unnatural position, directly in the path of the ball.

Managing Editor for Brotherly Game, SBNation's Philadelphia Union blog and contributor for SBN Philly. // @scottdkessler
"College is only 4 years, but the Eagles are for life." - Ironhank

by Scott Kessler on May 5, 2011 5:31 PM EDT up reply actions