Why Manchester United’s goal stood despite Harry Maguire’s handball

A football goal can be disallowed automatically if the scorer touches the ball with a hand or arm before scoring, even when the contact happens accidentally. The rule became the focus of a Manchester United incident involving Harry Maguire.

Ipswich’s coach lamented what he saw as another instance of his team falling victim to the rules. The central question was whether Maguire had touched the ball with his hand before the goal.

In Maguire’s case, however, the goal stood. The article presents the incident as an example of the distinction between a handball by the player who scores and other contact during the move.