CAHN vs Kashima Antlers: Two Controversial Handball Incidents in AFC Champions League Match

On the pitch, during the AFC Champions League match between CAHN (Công An Hà Nội) and Kashima Antlers from Japan, spectators witnessed controversial situations regarding the handball law. In the 28th minute, Ueda of the visiting team let the ball touch his arm inside the penalty area, but the referee did not award a penalty. In the 67th minute, it was Ogawa who had a similar situation, and once again the referee did not give the home team a penalty. These decisions caused disappointment among Vietnamese football fans, who believed their team should have benefited from these situations. However, looking at it objectively, the handball law in football is not simply about the ball touching a player's hand. According to IFAB regulations, the referee needs to consider the position of the arm, whether the player made their body unnaturally bigger, and most importantly, whether the ball touched the hand after deflecting from the foot. In both situations, it can be seen that the ball touched the player's hand after deflecting from their own foot, and the arm position was not considered to be in a posture that made the body unnaturally bigger. Therefore, the referee's decisions can be seen as reasonable according to the law. Nevertheless, these are situations where fans and football experts still have different opinions. Additionally, the fact that the match was broadcast on the TV360 platform with Viettel's 4G/5G data package shows the growing interest of fans in international matches. This is a positive signal for the development of Vietnamese football on the international stage, as domestic teams increasingly have opportunities to face strong opponents from Asia. In this context, thorough analysis of controversial situations is necessary to enhance understanding of football laws within the fan community. This not only helps viewers better understand referee decisions but also contributes to creating a more professional and fair football environment in Vietnam. Players and coaching staff also need to master the laws to be able to adapt in similar situations, rather than relying solely on their instincts.