It’s a decision that risks getting people talking. Trailing for a long time and lacking offensive efficiency, this Tuesday against Newcastle in the Champions League (1-1), PSG relied on a penalty at the end of stoppage time to equalize thanks to Kylian Mbappé (90′ +8), who responded to Alexander Isak’s opener (24′). A penalty whistled by Szymon Marciniak after an involuntary handball by Tino Livramento on a cross from Ousmane Dembélé. The English player certainly had his arm off the ground, but the ball hit his chest beforehand.
What does the regulation say?
According to the regulations, amended two years ago, “ it is a foul if a player deliberately touches the ball with the arm or hand, for example with movement of the arm or hand towards the ball ” Or “ if he touches the ball with his arm or hand having artificially increased the surface covered by his body. »
Nevertheless, ” any contact between the ball and a player’s arm or hand does not necessarily constitute an infraction “. In the texts, “ it is considered that a player has artificially increased the surface covered by his body when the position of his arm or hand is not a consequence of the movement of his body in that specific situation or is not justifiable by such movement. By having his arm or hand in such a position, the player takes the risk of touching the ball with these parts of the body and thus being penalized “.
READ ALSO. VIDEO. Donnarumma guilty, Pope decisive… the tops and flops of PSG – Newcastle
Regardless, this decision suits PSG, which keeps its destiny in its hands before traveling to Dortmund for its last match of the group stage of the Champions League.