A penalty kick that swung a World Cup semi-final has reignited a familiar debate among football fans: what exactly constitutes a handball? With Spain beating France 2-0 to reach the 2026 final, the pivotal moment came in the 22nd minute when Mikel Oyarzabal converted from the spot after Lucas Digne fouled Lamine Yamal. But replays showed that before the foul, the ball may have struck Yamal's arm, leading to questions over whether the penalty should have stood. For UK fans, the controversy has added spice given that England could face Spain in Sunday's final.
Here is what happened: France left-back Lucas Digne was penalised for a clumsy challenge on Spain's teenage winger Lamine Yamal inside the box. Replays showed that, seconds earlier, the ball appeared to hit Yamal's arm as he controlled it. Under current International Football Association Board (IFAB) rules, a handball is penalised if a player deliberately touches the ball with their hand or arm, or if their body is made unnaturally bigger. The referee and VAR judged that Yamal's arm was in a natural position, so no infringement occurred—meaning the foul by Digne was the only offence.
“Explains the handball rule behind Spain's controversial penalty in the 2026 World Cup semi-final.”
The handball rule has undergone several revisions in recent years to clarify what is and isn't a foul. Key changes include the scrapping of 'accidental' handball in the build-up to a goal—meaning any handball, even accidental, by an attacking player before a goal now leads to it being disallowed. However, that rule applies only to the scoring of a goal, not to events leading to a penalty. In this case, because Yamal's handball was considered accidental and his arm was in a natural position, it did not cancel out the subsequent foul.
For UK readers, this debate has immediate relevance. England fans watching the semi-final in hope of seeing their team reach the final will be aware that Spain's victory sets up a potential meeting. The handball rule has been a talking point in the Premier League for years, with managers and players often expressing confusion. The fact that it played a part in a World Cup semi-final only adds to the sense that the rule needs further simplification. Arsenal fans, meanwhile, will be concerned about William Saliba's back injury, which forced him off in the first half and could impact the club's transfer plans.
The controversy highlights the challenge of applying a rule that relies on subjective judgment about 'natural' arm position. VAR can only overturn a decision if there is a clear and obvious error—and here, the on-field referee's call stood. Whether the penalty should have been given will continue to be debated, but what matters now is that Spain are through and the final is set.
Q: What is the handball rule in football? A handball offence occurs when a player deliberately touches the ball with their hand or arm, or when their body is made unnaturally bigger. Accidental handball is not usually penalised unless it leads directly to a goal or a goal-scoring opportunity.
Q: Why was Spain's penalty given despite claims of a handball by Lamine Yamal? The referee and VAR judged that Yamal's arm was in a natural position when the ball struck it, meaning no handball offence occurred. Therefore, the only offence was Lucas Digne's foul on Yamal, which warranted a penalty.
Q: Could VAR have intervened to disallow the penalty? No. VAR can only overturn a decision if there is a clear and obvious error. Since the handball was not deemed a clear offence, the penalty stood. The rules only disallow a goal or penalty if the attacking player commits a handball in the immediate build-up—here, the handball was judged accidental and not part of the scoring play.
What happens next? Spain will face either England or Argentina in the World Cup final on Sunday 19 July. The handball controversy is already a talking point among fans and pundits, but no formal review is expected. FIFA is unlikely to change the rules mid-tournament. For now, the decision stands, and Spain advance.
