Last minute handball: was a YB penalty? Referee expert Urs Meier explains

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First round, first big excitement. And that in Bern. In Wankdorf it is 1:1 between champion YB and promoted Lausanne. Then a final attack from the Bernese. Newcomer Silvère Ganvoula (27) brings the ball back to the middle. The Congolese’s cross bounces off the arm of Lausanne defender Archie Brown (21).

Referee Luca Piccolo (30) hesitates for a moment, but then points with conviction to the point. The VAR intervenes briefly, but supports the decision of the referee on the field. It is the decision of this match, Cedric Itten (26) runs and sinks the penalty effortlessly.

Hand to ball or ball to hand?

YB celebrates, Lausanne struggles. And the big question afterwards: was this punishment justified? “Yes”, says former top referee and Blick expert Urs Meier (64). “If you give a game-winning penalty – because of a handball in the last minute – then of course it causes a big discussion. But in this case I am with the referees. Archie Brown’s movement is clearly in the direction of the ball. And that is always the discussion: is it intentional, is it not intentional? Does the hand go to the ball? Or does the ball go to the hand? And in this case the arm goes to the ball. For me it is the right decision to give a penalty here,” said Meier.

And the man who is now at home in Andalusia, Spain, is happy with the referee’s performance in the first round. “It’s a good start to the season,” he says. It can go on like this. (mom)

Source : Blick