Your weekly source of information and entertainment, Sports Journal #32 brought to you by our journalists, is here! 📖⚽

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1/ FOOTBALL QUIZ

2/ CHAMPIONS LEAGUE ROUND OF 16 SUMMARY AND SPECULATIONS

3/ ACHIEVEMENTS OF “CLASSIC” PLAYERS #7

4/ HIGHLIGHTS OF THE SECOND WEEK OF SEASON 74

5/ БОРАТ IS LOOKING FOR THE MOST FOUL PLAYERS!

6/ THE GUARDIANS OF THE BORDER: XOLOS DE TIJUANA

7/ CHAMPIONS TOURNAMENT: THE BATTLE FOR THE PLAYOFFS BEGINS

8/ REFEREE CONTROVERSIES THROUGH THE EYES OF THE MANAGER #4

FOOTBALL QUIZ

👑 The winners of the last edition are: (Legacy)

100 Keys 🔑 Premium - Andrezinho

10,000 ⚡ Energy - Łasica & Robert Soldić

Hello! I'm here with another part of the football quiz series. Of course, there are prizes in the form of 100 Keys 🔑 Premium for the first person to answer correctly and 10,000 ⚡ Energy for two random people with the correct answer. I will select the winners on Thursday at 8 p.m. Let's start!

1/ Name and surname of the player:

He is a Belgian footballer, considered one of the best midfielders in the world. He was born on June 28, 1991 in Drongen, Belgium. From an early age, he showed great football talent, which allowed him to quickly make a name for himself in professional football.

He began his professional career in KRC Genk, where he made his debut in 2009. In the 2010/2011 season, he led the team to the Belgian championship, which caught the attention of larger European clubs. In 2012, he moved to Chelsea, but did not get many chances to play there. He was loaned to Werder Bremen, where he showed his potential, scoring 10 goals in the Bundesliga. In 2014, he joined Wolfsburg, where he became a key player. In the 2014/2015 season, he scored 21 assists in the Bundesliga and was voted the league's best player. In the summer of 2015, he moved to Manchester City for a record fee of around €76 million. 

Under Pep Guardiola, he became a key part of the team, winning numerous titles, including:

• The English Premier League (including 2017/18, 2018/19, 2020/21, 2021/22, 2022/23)

• The FA Cup and the English League Cup

• The UEFA Champions League (2022/23)

He has gained a reputation as one of the best creators of the game in the world, famous for his excellent passing, long-range shots and pitch intelligence.

He has been a pillar of the Belgian national team for years. He took part in the 2014, 2018 (bronze medal) and 2022 World Cups, and in the 2016 and 2020 European Championships. He is a complete player – creative, intelligent and effective. His influence on the game of Manchester City and the Belgian national team is invaluable, and his career is an example of a constant pursuit of perfection.

Author: Wylewinho

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE ROUND OF 16 SUMMARY AND SPECULATIONS

Hey! Kyrunio here, today I'm going to present to you another part of my speculations about the last matches of the Champions League in the 2024/25 season. The article is written after the second legs of the 1/8 finals, in which unfortunately I didn't manage to guess any of the results correctly in the previous article. Let's move on to an article that may be quite interesting due to the pairs we have in the quarterfinals.

Results of the second leg of the Champions League:

• FC Barcelona 3:1 Benfica (agg: 4:1)

• Inter 2:1 Feyenoord (agg: 4:1)

• Liverpool 0(1)*:1(4)* PSG (agg: 1:1, PSG won on penalties)

• Bayer Leverkusen 0:2 Bayern (agg: 0:5)

• LOSC 1:2 Borussia (agg: 2:3)

• Aston Villa 3:0 Club Brugge (agg: 6:1)

• Arsenal 2:2 PSV (agg: 9:3)

• Atlético Madrid 1(2)*:0(4)* Real Madrid (agg: 2:2, Real Madrid won on penalties)

• (number)* - result in penalties

Pairs The Champions League quarter-finalists are as follows:

Bayern - Inter: 

The match will be very interesting because there will be two top teams. We don't know the favorite, because both teams have been doing very well recently, Bayern confidently defeated their rivals, Inter also confidently reported to the quarter-finals. On the one hand, we have Harry Kane and Jamal Musiala, who have been phenomenal this season, on the other hand we have an equally spectacular offensive duo, Lautaro Martinez and Marcus Thuram, who have scored 23 goals together this season. Looking at the results of both teams, I bet on a result of 1:1.

FC Barcelona - Borussia Dortmund: 

The match will be quite interesting, but with Barcelona's current form, they are the favorites to advance, but time will tell what will happen. The last direct meeting of both teams was fierce, which was perfectly reflected in the result of 3:2 after an intense ending. On the one hand, we currently have the strongest attacking trio, Raphinha, Lewandowski and Yamal, on the other hand we have Guirassy and Adeyemi, who can also cause fear in front of the opponent's goal. If we were to look at the recent results of both teams, I would bet on a result of 3:1 for Barcelona.

Arsenal - Real Madrid: 

Definitely the most interesting match on paper. Here, as in the case of the first match, the favorite is not known from the beginning, but we have to look at the fact that Arsenal has problems winning important matches in the Champions League. In the previous edition of the competition, they lost to Bayern in the quarter-finals, and Real Madrid rarely wasted opportunities to win such important matches in the Champions League.

Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius cause a considerable threat in front of the opponent's goal, on the other hand we have Havertz, Martinelli and Saka, who also cannot be described as weak players. Arsenal ended the 1/8 finals with an impressive two-legged tie, in which they won 9:3. Real Madrid had to fight to advance until the very end - they won only after a series of penalties. I predict that the result will be 3:2 for Arsenal.

PSG - Aston Villa: 

This is definitely a match that on paper looks very boring and one-sided. The favorite has been known from the very beginning, it is PSG, which has been sensational this season. They are currently unbeaten in Ligue 1, and they have already won 25 league rounds. Dembele and Barcola draw special attention to each other. The former is currently the top scorer in his league, with 20 goals and 5 assists. Barcola currently has 13 goals and 7 assists in the league, which makes him the 4th best scorer in the league. Returning to the topic of the meeting between the two teams, I predict a spectacular result of 5:1 for PSG.

That's all from me for today, thank you for reading the article, I encourage you to read the rest of the articles prepared by other journalists! See you soon!

Author: Kyrunio

ACHIEVEMENTS OF “CLASSIC” PLAYERS #7

Dear Readers!

I greet you very, very warmly! From the obvious obviousness: it's Wednesday, I'm Andrzejek, and that means it's time for another edition of Sports Journal! The topic that I'm going to address for you today has not changed since the last few articles, and this is due to your positive response in private messages regarding this format. At the beginning, I'll just remind you that this series will end with ten articles and I'll start with another one for you 🙂 Let's start!

Zakker:

A dedicated player, an undisputed legend and a reserve midfielder with a big heart - here's Zakker, a player of the Restrictions (Black Stars) team. This likeable player has already tried his hand at many teams, including WOLF TEAM, Izba Wytrzeźwień, Nankatsu SC and even 7more7, so the current scythe of his current team. His contribution to the team's life is so large and significant for the board that despite representing the rival's colors for only 4 days, he became an active legend of the Black Stars. To conclude the introduction to the short history of Zakker, I invite you to check the numbers that a reserve player of the TOP1 team can achieve. Does he even get any chances on the pitch? Let's find out!

League: 1G/15A in 100 matches

ToC/ET: 0G/3A in 41 matches

NC: -

Friendlies: 11G/26A in 95 matches

Which gives a total of 12 goals and 44 assists in 236 matches. Although these numbers are not stunning, it is worth remembering that it is not only the numbers in a career that make FootballTeam players great, and Zakker can certainly be included in this group. As you can easily deduce from the numbers, there will be no medals in his career, but the team has certainly awarded him a medal of loyalty to the club colors a long time ago.

When it comes to club trophies, he has won all the most important cups such as the Tournament of Champions awards, winning the Super League or the Club's Top Week, while also contributing his share. Apart from his career in the Black Stars, he has won cups in the WOLF TEAM and the Izba Wytrzeźwień.

ULANY KDB:

The assistant and central midfielder of the Rayo eSports team is another person on our list today. He is a player of one club and has been playing his matches in Rayo from the very beginning. In my previous articles, we could already find players of one club who had astronomical numbers, but will it be the same this time? Let's find out!

League: 25G/55A in 98 matches

ToC/ET: 4G/14A in 12 matches

NC: -

Friendlies: 54G/116A in 120 matches

Which gives a total of 83 goals and 185 assists in 230 matches. It is worth noting that ULANY KDB, just like Zakker, do not have any goals or assists in the National Cup, which is worth noting in the general summary. As for the numbers of the described player, they are not the best, but they are not the worst either - a solid central midfielder for the first league. He also has an individual achievement for taking 3rd place among the best midfielders in the Spanish league. Club trophies, because there are also some, are:

2nd place in the Club Week Top

3rd place in the Club Week Top

4th and 5th place in the Super League

2x 6th place in the Super League

3rd place in the Spanish league

Wasilla:

Wasilla is another midfielder on this list who certainly has a craving for club trophies, which is confirmed by the fact that from the beginning of his career he has played in solid teams that are not unknown to old FootballTeam players, and we are talking about the Check Engine and KS Trzynacha teams. He currently plays for Huragan Młyny, where he won his first trophies, and representing the colors of his new team was his account. How does Wasilla look numerically in the overall career calculation?

League: 24G/80A in 124 matches

ToC/ET: 5G/7A in 18 matches

NC: 8G/10A in 9 matches

Friendlies: 54G/127A in 109 matches

Which gives a total of 91 goals and 224 assists in 260 matches. We can safely say that Wasilla is a solid central midfielder who would certainly find a place in the lineup of most first league teams. Despite decent numbers, this player has not won a single medal in his career. Does he have any trophies for club competitions? Of course!

Huragan Młyny:

Victory in the European Tournament

3rd place in the Top Club Week

1st place in the German league

KS Trzynacha:

Victory in the European Tournament

Italian Cup

2nd place in the Top Club Week

2x 3rd place in the Top Club Week

5th and 6th place in the Super League

2x first place in the Italian league

That's it! If you've made it this far, thank you very much for reading my article and see you next time!

Author: Andrzejek

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE SECOND WEEK OF SEASON 74

Hey! This is Kyrunio, today we'll be discussing the most interesting matches that took place in the second week of season 74. So let's get down to business.

Today, just like last week, I'll be taking a closer look at two matches, which I'll present below:

The first match I'll be focusing on took place on Monday, March 10th at 8:30 PM as part of the European Tournament, between Ред Булл Зальцбург and ФК Спартак М.

Both teams are more or less on an equal level of skill, but right from the start, the hosts started this goal concert by scoring the first goal in the 4th minute of the match. The goal was scored by BUHARIK, who did not yet know that this would not be his last goal in this match, assisted by Larello.

3 minutes later, after a foul by BUHARIK, for which he received a well-deserved yellow card, Big Baby confidently converted a penalty kick, which allowed him to equalize the score. The match continued, but both teams needed goals to win.

The hosts did not have to wait long for a goal, because in the 21st minute of the match BUHARIK scored again, this time after a pass from ALKONAFT. The guests kept trying to score an equalizer to stay in the match.

They managed to do so only 13 minutes after the break, Анри scored a goal after a long cross from Legendary Smile, shooting accurately with all his might.

A few minutes after conceding a goal, the hosts managed to take the lead again, the goal was again scored by BUHARIK, this time he scored a goal after an accurate cross from a corner kick by SINOTA, for whom this was not the last word in this match.

It was not because 15 minutes later he assisted again. This time he dribbled past the defender on the wing and made a very accurate cross, which was easily converted into a goal by BUHARIK with a header, for whom this was already the fourth goal in this match!

The guests tried to save the result, but they managed to get a touch only in the 90th minute through a goal by Анри, who received a perfect pass over the top from Владимир Крюков. At that moment, all the gathered fans of the guests were curious about the course of the added time. The match ended with a score of 4:3.

The next match I will take into account is the rivalry between Spartak Moscow and Red Bull London. The teams faced each other in the National Cup, the match took place on Tuesday, March 11 at 1:15 p.m.

The scoring in this match was started by Promilek DDZ, who scored in the 10th minute after a brilliant cross from a corner kick by Bimber Teścia.

The guests did not have time to enjoy the lead, as the hosts scored a goal only 4 minutes later. Шмаров scored from a corner kick after an excellent cross by Алекs!

We must take into account the changes made by the hosts, because it was the height of tactical knowledge. In the 25th minute, С п А р т А ч replaced Тихонов Андрей, and score a goal from a corner kick after a cross from RogZx just 9 minutes after coming on.

A moment after the start of the second half, the guests responded with a goal that equalized the score of the match, scored again by Promilek DDZ, for whom it was already his second goal. This time he played the ball brilliantly with Dinco.

A moment after conceding a goal, the hosts made a surprising change, leaving the pitch one taskmaster, namely С п А р т А ч, who played only 25 minutes. He was replaced by another taskmaster, namely Алексей Назарoв, who just six minutes after coming on converted a penalty kick into a goal that put the hosts in the lead.

The same player needed 10 minutes to put the ball in the net again, this time after a solo action. After scoring the second goal, he left the pitch.

At that moment, the guests made three key changes. Patrick7, brtq and Piotr Kiks entered the pitch, who took an active part in the later renovation.

The latter, Piotr Kiks, converted a penalty kick into a goal for his team in the 78th minute.

Just 5 minutes later, brtq gave Patrick7 a great release, and he converted this release into a goal that equalized the score! There were less than 10 minutes left until the end of the match.

In the 87th minute of the match, Piotr Kiks won a corner kick that decided the result of the entire match. Patrick7 crossed into the penalty area, where Promilek DDZ was perfectly positioned, he headed the ball and GOOOOOOOOOOL! They did it! In 15 minutes they completely messed with the hosts' heads, scoring 3 goals! Promilek DDZ finished the match with a hat-trick. The match ended with the score 4:5. What a beautiful match showing how important changes are in FootballTeam.

I will end today's article with this beautiful accent. I hope to see you next week. I encourage you to read the articles submitted by other journalists! See you soon!

Author: Kyrunio

БОРАТ IS LOOKING FOR THE MOST FOUL PLAYERS!

Good day, dear readers of the sports magazine!

A few years ago, an article about the biggest brutes of the game appeared in the sports magazine of the Russian-language server, which analyzed who receives the most yellow cards and their ratio to time spent on the pitch.

Since then, reality has changed - the servers have been merged, which means it's time to recount the cards. We will also find out which position receives them most often - forwards, midfielders, defenders, or maybe... goalkeepers?

What? Has Борат gone crazy? How are goalkeepers? No, everything is fine - I remember that goalkeepers don't get cards... or maybe they do? But more on that later!

To start, I took a closer look at the TOP 100 players, or rather 98 (for some reason, at the time of writing the article, positions 99 and 100 were missing!).

In the previous article, the virtual "Broken Golden Leg" award was given to the player who had the most yellow cards with a relatively small number of minutes played - that is, he outpaced the competition in both categories.

Will there be an unequivocal pitch butcher this time?

Let's see who collected the most yellow cards (hereinafter: Yellow Card):

TOP 5 – Most Yellow Cards:

🏅 5th place –  La Pulga Atomica (115 Yellow Cards)

🏅 4th place –  Chazz Palminteri  (122 Yellow Cards)

🏅 3rd ​​place –  Rob727 1208 (123 Yellow Cards)

🥈 2nd place – skiloffy chłopak LH (126 Yellow Cards)

🥇 1st place –  Popcorn Proszę (150 Yellow Cards)

The first four were neck and neck, but the winner jumped ahead of the rest and won with a clear advantage! The lack of players from the old Russian server is not surprising, because the players from the Polish server had over a year of time advantage.

Now let's check who got the cards the most in relation to the minutes spent on the pitch:

TOP 5 – Most frequently received Yellow Cards (minutes per card):

🏅 5th place – Rob727 1208 (1792 min/Yellow Card)

🏅 4th place – Pi100let (1634 min/Yellow Card)

🏅 3rd ​​place – Großvater (1596 min/Yellow Card)

🥈 2nd place – Popcorn Proszę (1501 min/Yellow Card)

🥇 1st place –  SSOHUGO (1280 min/Yellow Card)

Interestingly, Pi100let also took 4th place in the previous article, although in completely different company – but he keeps the level!

The most frequently punished player and the player with the most cards are midfielders – and offensive ones at that!

Now that we know who plays the most brutally, it's time to check who plays the most fair:

Удар в девятку received the fewest yellow cards in the 19th season - only 14 yellow cards!

He is also the winner in the "minutes per yellow card" category with a score of 10,414 minutes per card! This is a huge advantage over the next in the ranking - Żniwiarz Dusz, who needed 7,248 minutes per card.

Yellow card breakdown by position:

🔹 Defenders: 26 players – 1339 yellow cards

🔹 Midfielders: 54 players – 3801 yellow cards

🔹 Forwards: 11 players – 669 yellow cards

If we look at the average number of cards per player:

🔹 Defenders – 51 yellow card per player

🔹 Forwards – 60 yellow card per player

🔹 Midfielders – 70 yellow card per player

In the previous article I suggested that the high number of yellow cards for midfielders is logical – they play on many lines of the pitch. It is also possible that penalties are more often awarded after fouls by forwards (who should not be in the opponent's penalty area), less often by midfielders and even less often by defenders. Now you've probably noticed that the numbers don't add up to 98 or 100 players... because the list also includes goalkeepers!

At first I ignored them, but when I accidentally looked at the profile of one of them and saw one Yellow card, I thought: "This must be the fairest player in the ranking!". Only later did I notice that it was... a goalkeeper.

Upon closer inspection, it turned out that many goalkeepers also have Yellow Cards - usually just one, but still.

One of them stands out, Gruba, who has collected as much as 6 Yellow Cards!!!

Interestingly, his nickname in Russian sounds very similar to the word "grubo" (meaning "brutal"). Indeed, for a goalkeeper - quite harsh!

How is that possible? There were cases of players who manipulated positions - it is possible that similar experiments took place here.

This is what the latest list of pitch brutals looks like! I hope you enjoyed it!

Author: Борат

THE GUARDIANS OF THE BORDER: XOLOS DE TIJUANA

Club Tijuana Xoloitzcuintles de Caliente, or simply Xolos de Tijuana, is much more than a soccer team. It transcends logic, defies time and still makes its fans roar with excitement! Founded in 2007, the Mexican border club has risen at a rocket pace and made a name for itself on the national and international scene with a history full of determination and passion.

Imagine a club that, in less than a decade, went from "who?" to the top of Mexican soccer. This is the saga of the Xolos! Created to bring professional soccer back to Tijuana, the team wasted no time: in 2011, it was already in the Liga MX, the elite of national soccer. And as if that were not enough, in 2012, the Xolos made history by winning the Liga MX Apertura Tournament. The city exploded in celebration, and even the Xoloitzcuintles (the dogs) seemed to be barking "¡Campeones!" in the streets. With the title on their chest, the Xolos stamped their passport to the 2013 Copa Libertadores de América, where they surprised everyone by eliminating the continent's giants and reaching the quarterfinals. The saga in the Libertadores consolidated the club's reputation as that new guest who arrives at the party and steals the show, annoying the big names of South American football. 

The Caliente Stadium is the stage where the red-and-black passion takes place. With a capacity for 27,333 fans, it is right next to the border with the United States, and its synthetic grass is one of the peculiarities that makes visitors sweat before the ball even starts rolling. Here, the heat is guaranteed, both in the name and in the stands! The name "Xoloitzcuintles" may seem like a tongue twister, but it has a special meaning. He comes from the historic and loyal Mexican dog breed, the Xoloitzcuintle, which is the club's mascot. Known for his loyalty and endurance, this little dog is the mirror of the team: fearless, tough and ready for the next battle.

Xolos in Football Team Game: A Virtual Saga

In the world of gaming, Club Tijuana is also doing well! Its virtual journey began in the second season, in April 2019, and since then, it has collected impressive titles and statistics. So far, it has 2,989 wins, 499 draws, and 1,410 losses, with 15,870 goals scored and 7,368 conceded. Among its best moments, seasons 65, 66, and 67 stand out, when it was runner-up in League 1 and achieved an honorable third place among the best teams of the week (01/07/24) in season 66.

Currently, the club occupies the 24th position in the overall team ranking. Its president is Dezyderiusz Dyrdymał, and the coaching staff is made up of Piszczu z Tijuany and Tacchinardi. This season, the Xolos are competing in the English League 1, currently occupying the fifth position overall, with 28 points, 9 wins, 1 draw and 3 losses. He scored 47 goals and conceded 22.

The highlights of the squad are the striker  Karondor, and the human wall of the goal, Paulina Stormborn.

Now, with the merger of the servers in the Football Team Game, the question remains: will the virtual Xolos be able to replicate the success of the real team? The fate is sealed, and the dogs of Tijuana are ready for another hunt!

See you next week!

Author: Fábio Muri

CHAMPIONS TOURNAMENT: THE BATTLE FOR THE PLAYOFFS BEGINS

Ladies and gentlemen, get ready for a week of excitement and adrenaline! The Champions Tournament enters its decisive phase and promises thrilling clashes, where only the most prepared will move forward in the search for glory. Let's analyze what awaits us in this true battlefield!

The European Tournament, the second most important competition in the game – only behind the coveted Super League – brings together true gladiators of the field. With squads full of top-notch stars and strategists, each team seeks the perfect tactic to overcome their opponents. In this 74th season, the quarterfinal duels promise to bring the stands to life and intensify rivalries. Let's take a look at the clashes:

Public Enemies vs. The Legends OW

On one side, we have Public Enemies, super champion and current leader of the Super League, a true colossus that commands respect and fear from any opponent. Conversely, The Legends OW, sixth place in the same competition, is trying to prove that legends should never be underestimated. Public Enemies are the favorites, but in football, we know that surprises can happen. The games are scheduled for Saturday, March 15, and the final on Wednesday, March 19, both at 4:00 p.m.

TeamTsubasa vs. La Familia

In this clash, we have TeamTsubasa, warriors of the SuperLeague, against La Familia, rulers of the Polish League 1. Tsubasa's strength and experience weigh in their favor, but La Familia's determination could surprise. The clashes are scheduled for Sunday, March 16, and Thursday, March 20, both at 4:00 p.m.

Monster FC vs. Новиград

Two Superliga powerhouses are on a collision course. Monster FC, known for its aggressive and lethal stance, faces the challenger Novigrad, who is looking to write a new chapter in its history. Despite Monster's favoritism, a balanced duel is expected. The matches will take place on Monday, March 17th and Friday, March 21st, at 4 pm.

Кремень vs. FC HIENAS

The last clash also features two giants of the SuperLeague. Kremen, a team with a strong structure and technical quality, enters as the favorite against FC HIENAS, who promise to make their defeat costly. This duel has everything to be a spectacle worthy of a great knockout stage. The games are scheduled for Tuesday, March 18th and Saturday, March 22nd, both at 4 pm.

The countdown begins! The fields are ready, the fans are excited and the players are ready to give it their all on the field. Who will be the next on the path to glory? Place your bets, because the Tournament of Champions promises to be exciting until the very last minute!

See you next week!

Author: : Fábio Muri

REFEREE CONTROVERSIES THROUGH THE EYES OF THE MANAGER #4

Hello, this is Kiero DS. Due to the numerous controversial situations involving football referees, I have decided to create a new series, where I will analyze these situations step by step. This series will appear relatively regularly, along with the emerging controversies. What is the next situation we take from the event from the 19th round of the PKO BP Ekstraklasa match Motor Lublin - Lechia Gdańsk.

Description of the situation:

It is the 81st minute of the match. Lechia Gdańsk launches a quick counterattack - the striker of this team overtakes the Motor Lublin defender and runs into the side zone of the penalty area. He sees a well-positioned teammate, marked with the number 79, and decides to pass. At the same moment, the Motor defender with the number 37 tries at all costs to block the pass, making a slide towards the ball. The ball bounces off his boot and hits his right hand, slightly changing the direction of the ball. The Lechia striker, running into a clear position, misses the ball.

The Lechia players immediately signal the handball and demand a penalty. The referee does not react at first, but VAR recommends that he re-analyze the situation on the monitor. After watching several replays, the referee changes his decision and indicates the "penalty". And here the key question arises - did the referee make the right decision?

Analysis of the incident:

To properly understand this situation, we need to refer to the rules of football regarding handball. According to them, if a player makes a block and the ball hits a hand that is outside the natural outline of the body, we are dealing with a violation of the rules.

In this particular action, the Motor defender was making a blocking action. His hand was clearly stretched out in front of him and was outside the natural position of the body, which increased its surface area. Importantly, the earlier contact of the ball with the defender's shoe was not crucial - it was an ordinary ricochet that did not significantly change the ball's flight path (no so-called effective change of movement).

From the point of view of the regulations, two key elements are important:

1. Hand position - the hand was extended in front of the body, which means that the defender increased its surface area unnaturally.

2. Contact with the hand after the ricochet - the fact that the ball had previously bounced off the shoe does not automatically mean that handball is allowed. The hand was in an unnatural position, so the play was illegal.

The referee's decision - why was it right?:

The referee made the right decision because the defender's hand was in an unnatural position and blocked the ball's flight path. The regulations clearly indicate that if the ball hits a hand that is outside the outline of the player's body, we are dealing with a violation of the regulations.

Importantly, the referee does not analyze how much the ball changed direction after contact with the hand - he does not have to consider whether the Lechia striker would have had a chance to reach the ball if the contact had not occurred. The mere fact that the hand was in an unnatural position and the ball hit it is enough to consider it an infringement.

From the perspective of the rules of the game, the decision was therefore clear - a penalty kick for Lechia was absolutely right. VAR reacted correctly, and after analyzing the replays, the referee made a decision in accordance with the rules.

Summary:

This situation is a great example of how important it is to precisely apply the rules and how crucial the support of the VAR system is in such moments. The Motor defender's hand was stretched out in front of the body and enlarged its outline - a classic infringement of the rules. Contact of the ball with the hand after a ricochet is of no great significance here, because according to the rules, playing with the hand in such a situation means an infringement.

Therefore, the decision to award a penalty kick was completely in accordance with the rules of the game. The VAR and the main referee did an exemplary job in this situation, making the correct decision at a key moment in the match.

Thanks for reading my article! If you like this type of content or have ideas for other topics I should write about, leave your suggestions in the comments. Best regards!

Author: Kiero DS