Tactical fouls often go unpunished as officials do not recognize the tactical implication and attacking advantage.
Referees must establish parameters for involvement during the pregame discussion. Assistant Referees (ARs) must feel empowered to participate in game critical decisions when they are 100% certain. They must also have guidelines which enable their involvement to be supportive rather than appear in conflict with the tenor of the match set by the referee.
There are several key criteria referees should use to determine whether contact between a player’s hand/arm and the ball constitutes a foul for handling. Many of the criteria have formed the foundation of referee identification of handling offenses for years. Despite this foundation, handling criteria continue to be applied inconsistently.