Imagine you’re watching a handball match. The atmosphere is at its peak, the players are giving it their all, the ball is flying from one end of the court to the other. Suddenly, one of the players commits a serious foul. The referee blows the whistle and shows a red card. What happens next? Is the player replaced, or does the team have to continue playing with fewer players?
Cards in Handball: Three Colors!
In handball, three types of cards can be shown by the referee during a match:
- The yellow card: this is a warning. The offending player can continue playing but must be careful not to repeat the offense.
- The red card: this means definitive exclusion. The offending player must leave the court and cannot participate in the rest of the match.
- The blue card: introduced in the rules in 2016, the blue card signifies a definitive exclusion with a written report, meaning additional sanctions may be taken against the offending player after the match.
Temporary Two-Minute Suspension
During a match, the referee can decide to temporarily suspend a player for two minutes. This sanction occurs in cases of fouls or unsportsmanlike conduct. During this suspension, the team must play with one fewer player for two minutes. The opposing team can take advantage of this situation to score goals and gain the upper hand.
It’s worth noting that if a player receives three temporary suspensions in the same match, they automatically receive a red card.
The Impact of a Red Card in Handball
Let’s return to our initial question: what happens when a player receives a red card in handball?
When a player is shown a red card, they are definitively excluded from the match. Unlike other sports such as football, in handball, the team is not required to finish the match with fewer players.
In fact, two minutes after the exclusion, the team can bring another player onto the court to replace the excluded player. Therefore, it is possible to replace a player who has received a red card in handball, once the team has served the two-minute penalty.
The Consequences of a Red Card
Beyond the current match, the definitive exclusion of a player can have significant consequences for subsequent matches. Indeed, the Federation’s Disciplinary Commission can decide to suspend the player for one or more following matches, depending on the severity of the committed foul. This sanction can be very penalizing for the team, especially if the excluded player is a key element.
The definitive exclusion of a player following a red card may temporarily unbalance a team, but thanks to handball’s specific rules, it’s not necessarily synonymous with defeat. Indeed, each team has the opportunity to adapt and develop new strategies to counter the opposing team.
Specific Sanctions: Free Throw and Seven-Meter Throw
In the world of handball, beyond cards, other specific sanctions can be awarded by the referee. Among these are the free throw and the seven-meter throw.
When a foul occurs, the referee can decide to award a free throw to the opposing team if this foul prevented a goal-scoring opportunity. The free throw is taken from where the foul occurred, unless it was committed between the nine-meter line and the six-meter line. In this case, the free throw is taken from the nine-meter line. The ball is then put back into play, and the player from the opposing team must attempt to score a goal following this throw.
Moreover, if a player commits a serious foul in their own goal area, the referee can award a seven-meter throw to the opposing team. The goalkeeper must then face this throw, which takes place from the seven-meter line. This sanction is generally awarded when the offending player prevents a clear goal-scoring opportunity.
Basketteur de moins d’1m80, je prends la plume pour parler basket, cyclisme ou football. Je ne crie pas “Go Spurs Go” mais je suis Wemby de près. Et tant pis pour mes Trail Blazers qui végètent à l’Ouest…