While players from both teams compete for the ball inside the penalty area, it accidentally touches an attacker’s hand/arm and then goes directly into the opponents’ goal. The attacker did not move their hand/arm towards the ball. What is the correct decision?

THE DECISION

Regardless of the position of the hand/arm, this is a handball offence because an attacker cannot score directly into the opponents’ goal with their hand/arm, even if accidental. The referee disallows the goal and awards a direct free kick to the defending team. The attacker is not cautioned (no yellow card) as the handball was accidental and there was no deliberate attempt to score using the hand/arm.