Why Harry Maguire’s handball goal counted: Ipswich collapse as Greaves concedes OG and Fernandes nets three | OneFootball

Ipswich Town were left feeling frustrated after conceding a second goal to Manchester United on Sunday.

The newly-promoted Tractor Boys had opened the scoring at Old Trafford and were holding Michael Carrick's side until a quick-fire setback. Ipswich conceded twice in five minutes, with the first coming afterHarry Maguire had handled in the build-up.

The ball struck the centre-back's arm as he regained possession, before stepping forward to fire in a deflected effort.

Premier League rules dictate that goals will be disallowed if a ball strikes the player's arm, intentionally or otherwise, immediately before finding the net.

However, Maguire's mitigating factor was that his effort was heading off target before Jacob Greaves diverted the ball into his own goal.

UnderPremier League rules, goals will stand for accidental handballs in the build-up if the ball was not entering the goal by the player who committed the offence.

Why was Harry Maguire's handball against Ipswich allowed to stand? Premier League Handball Laws and Mitigating Factors

Accidental handball before a goal is scored

It is an offence if a player scores in the opponents’ goal:

-Directly from their hand/arm, even if accidental, including by the goalkeeper

-Immediately after the ball has touched their hand/arm, even if accidental

Mitigating factors

-Goal not immediate

-Goal scored by a teammate

-Ball not entering goal; however action of a defender results in an ‘own goal’

A bad moment for Greaves became worse moments later, when he scythed down Matheus Cunha to concede a penalty for Bruno Fernandes to score. Fernandes added his hat-trick goal to make it 4-1 to the home side on 68 minutes to further compound Ipswich's implosion.