tactical, deliberate handball?

Discussion in 'Soccer Boots' started by Roehl Sybing, May 1, 2003.

  1. Roehl Sybing

    Roehl Sybing Guest

    OK, it's late and I've taken time out from studying, and I wanted to entertain a notion of mine.

    Say you're bunkered down in your own box and your keeper has been beaten. The other guy has a sure shot on goal and goes top corner. Either you jumped too late or jumped too early to head the ball out, but if you raise your arms you can punch it clear. Would you sacrifice yourself (straight red card) and bet on your keeper to block a penalty by deliberately handling the ball as a last resort?
     
  2. Becks7

    Becks7 Member

    Dec 6, 2000
    Hong Kong
    Assuming it's nil-nil

    Best case scenario: You concede the goal, but you have a chance to level with 11 men.

    Worst case scenario: You get ejected, and you concede a goal on the ensuing PK.

    Your chances are much better with just letting the ball go in, unless you have an unreal PK stopper.
     
  3. Blong

    Blong Member+

    Oct 29, 2002
    Midwest, the real one.
    In that situation 'tactical' would be a generous way to put it. It would definitely be poor sportsmanship, verging on flat-out cheating.

    This very thing happened in a game I once played(indoor) when a guy on my team decided to switch to goalie just as the ball was crossing the line. Well, we were only 11yo at the time(we're talking '80s here), so he got off with a yellow and a very stern warning.
     
  4. nopheer

    nopheer New Member

    May 4, 2002
    Swindon, UK
    It would really depend on how long left in the game and the importance of the game. If it was the world cup final, with 5 minutes to go at 0-0, then I would definitely handle it. If it was only half way through the game in a normal league match then nope.
     
  5. houstonmls

    houstonmls Member

    Aug 11, 1999
    Dallas
    I've done it. We were up 1-nil with 4 min to go in the state final. Dude missed the PK. We won. I don't regret it.
     
  6. hermsoccergrl

    hermsoccergrl New Member

    Oct 25, 2002
    VA
    I wouldn't do it b/c my chances of actually keeping it from going in after hitting it down are not good. With my luck I would hit it with my hand and then it would whack off the goalie and go in.
     
  7. vakeeper22

    vakeeper22 New Member

    Oct 16, 2002
    VA
    Seriously. that would be our luck.
     
  8. Becks7

    Becks7 Member

    Dec 6, 2000
    Hong Kong
    if your playing a high level, chances are 96/100 the shooter should finish no problem. If you break it down, you have a shooter shooting from 12 yards on a huge goal lol...if he hits it hard enough there really isn't a chance
     
  9. houstonmls

    houstonmls Member

    Aug 11, 1999
    Dallas
    Tell that to Brad Friedel.
     
  10. Anarchist

    Anarchist New Member

    Mar 20, 2003
    Stuart, Florida
    Has anyone ever heard of a 'blue card'? i don't know if it's some official new thing or something a local referee made up, but if you make an intentional handball to stop the goal, he shows the "blue card" and the goal counts and you get sent off.
     
  11. Becks7

    Becks7 Member

    Dec 6, 2000
    Hong Kong
    We have blue cards here for indoor (arena style)

    blue = 2 minute penalty, and if a goal is conceded u get outta the box

    yellow = 4 min, and u stay in even if u concede goal
     
  12. quackman

    quackman Member

    Feb 25, 2001
    Ann Arbor, Michigan
    Club:
    Chicago Fire
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I've never heard of a blue card.

    As far as the original question, it would have to be really late in the game with the score tied, but I'd like to think I would. That certainly is what we used to be trained to do, though that was back before it was an automatic red.
     
  13. Labdarugo

    Labdarugo Member

    Dec 3, 2000
    Downwind
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Brad Friedel?! Tell that to Roberto Baggio!!
     
  14. quackman

    quackman Member

    Feb 25, 2001
    Ann Arbor, Michigan
    Club:
    Chicago Fire
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Warning - this post contains result of July 23 USA vs. Brazil game.

























    Gibbs yesterday used this tactic, and it was the exact right move. It didn't pay off since the guy made the PK, and it shouldn't have mattered because the forward had been offsides, but the tactic was the right one.
     
  15. Roehl Sybing

    Roehl Sybing Guest

    Ah yes. No man hath a greater love than when he red card himself out for his team.
     
  16. Wolves_67

    Wolves_67 Member

    Oct 27, 2002
    Pasadena, CA
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    For sure. It was golden goal time so there was no chance if he let it go in and the only chance was for a Keller save so he had to do it.
    It's not as easy to decide to do it if it's 0-0 with 3 minutes left to go.
     
  17. romagol10

    romagol10 Member

    Jul 23, 2003
    CO
    Club:
    AS Roma
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Never

    No not even for a state championship in the last minute I'd rather lose with dignity than lose with no dignity or win and be called a cheat.

    I would most definitly not do it in the World Cup final in the closing minutes. Maradonna is known throughout the world by many as a cheat for his hand of god. Imagine the reputation a player would get for doing what was descriped in the original post to stop a goal at the end of the final. I could never live with doing that and robbing the other team or a world cup.
     

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