Birmingham City Left Frustrated by Handball Rule in West Brom Draw
Birmingham City were left cursing the handball rule after a contentious decision in their goalless draw with West Bromwich Albion on Tuesday night. The Blues played out their first scoreless match of the season against Albion, ruing a disallowed goal, two goal-line clearances, and a catalogue of missed opportunities.
Controversial Call Denies Blues Penalty
The most debated incident occurred when West Brom defender Callum Styles blocked a goal-bound header from Birmingham midfielder Paik Seung-ho on the goal-line. The ball initially struck Styles' leg before bouncing onto his hand, with Albion goalkeeper Max O'Leary then palming it away before Marvin Ducksch could prod home from close range.
Blues manager Chris Davies firmly insisted the incident should have resulted in a penalty for his team. Speaking after the match, Davies expressed his frustration with the officiating decision that went against Birmingham City.
Styles Admits He Wasn't Worried About Penalty
West Brom player Callum Styles revealed afterwards that he wasn't concerned about conceding a penalty when the ball made contact with his hand. Speaking to Sky Sports, Styles explained: "I knew it hit my leg first. It was just a reflex."
The referee, Adam Herczeg, decided against awarding Birmingham a penalty based on the current handball regulations. According to IFAB (International Football Association Board) rules, a handball offence is not committed when a player heads, kicks, or plays the ball with another part of their body and it then hits their own hand or arm, unless the ball goes directly into the opponents' goal or the player scores immediately afterwards.
Rule Interpretation Leaves Blues Aggrieved
This specific interpretation of the handball rule meant that despite the ball striking Styles' hand and preventing what appeared to be a certain Birmingham City goal, no penalty was awarded. The Blues were left to reflect on what might have been in a match where they created numerous scoring chances but failed to convert any of them.
The goalless draw represents Birmingham City's first of the season and leaves both teams sharing the points in this Midlands encounter. While West Bromwich Albion will be satisfied with their defensive resilience, Birmingham City will feel particularly hard done by the handball decision that denied them a potential match-winning penalty opportunity.
