The Leah Williamson handball decided a late penalty as Arsenal drew 2-2 with Paris FC in the Women’s Champions League on Wednesday 30 September, BBC Sport reports. Arsenal led 2-0, then 2-1, before the decision. BBC Sport says the penalty was the correct call under the laws, while former Arsenal defender Jen Beattie disagreed.
How the Leah Williamson handball happened
With Arsenal leading 2-1 late on, the ball went out for a goal-kick. BBC Sport says goalkeeper Misa Rodriguez played a short pass to Williamson. The England captain stopped it with her hand, believing the goal-kick had not been taken and that she was to take it. The referee judged the ball was stationary and in play, so the goal-kick counted. Maeline Mendy scored the penalty for the hosts.
Why BBC says the Leah Williamson handball was a penalty
BBC Sport points to the International Football Association Board laws. Law 16 says a defender takes a goal-kick by kicking a stationary ball in the goal area. Law 12 makes it an offence to deliberately touch the ball with the hand or arm. As a result, a handball inside the penalty area gives a penalty kick. In addition, BBC notes Aston Villa’s Tyrone Mings made the same error against Club Brugge in November 2024.
What Arsenal and Jen Beattie said
Arsenal assistant coach Aaron D’Antino said the team can learn from the Leah Williamson handball: “maybe the learning in that is how we get the ball to Leah, so we don’t put ourselves in that situation.” However, Beattie told Paramount+ that referee Iuliana Demetrescu got it wrong: “The referee has miscalled it.” BBC Sport says the referee applied the laws correctly, so these are two different views on the same decision.
What it means for Arsenal
After the Leah Williamson handball, the draw leaves Arsenal fourth in the league-stage table after two games, according to BBC Sport’s match page. BBC says they would have been second with a win in Paris.
England captains are a regular topic here. Read what David Moyes said in his praise for Declan Rice as a future England captain.
