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LONDON — An already frustrating afternoon turned even more sour for Chelsea as they were denied what many inside Stamford Bridge considered a clear penalty appeal for handball against Hull City on Saturday.
With the match deadlocked at 2–2 heading into second-half stoppage time, Chelsea's irritation was compounded by the careless manner in which they had surrendered an early lead at home to newly promoted opponents. Estêvão drove to the byline and whipped in a cross.
Hull's imposing center back Semi Ajayi had tracked across and managed to get a touch on the ball as it entered his penalty area—the problem was that the contact came from his right fist.
Estêvão spun around gesturing emphatically while Xabi Alonso mirrored the same frantic display of frustration from the sun-drenched Stamford Bridge dugout. Neither on-field referee Farai Hallam nor video assistant referee (VAR) Michael Oliver were moved by the protests, and play was quickly waved on.
Why Chelsea Didn't Win Penalty Against Hull City
The handball law remains one of the most contentious and unpredictable aspects of soccer's ever-growing rulebook. To break it down, Law 12 of the FA Handbook defines a handball offense as occurring when a player "deliberately touches the ball with their hand/arm, for example moving the hand/arm towards the ball touches the ball with their hand/arm when it has made their body unnaturally bigger."
Ajayi clearly moves his hand away from the ball, which immediately rules out any suggestion of deliberate intent. The more debatable question is whether his arm position made his body unnaturally larger.
Law 12 states: "A player is considered to have made their body unnaturally bigger when the position of their hand/arm is not a consequence of, or justifiable by, the player's body movement for that specific situation. By having their hand/arm in such a position, the player takes a risk of their hand/arm being hit by the ball and being penalized."
Ajayi's arm was extended outward as he lunged to block Estêvão's cross. It could reasonably be argued that raising both arms to maintain balance while stretching his body in that manner was a natural result of his movement in that moment.
Despite the visible frustration among those in west London, the officiating team can feel confident in their decision not to award a penalty. Once the sting of dropped points fades, it may become apparent that Chelsea should not have been depending on a dubious penalty shout to salvage a victory against Hull.