Williamson handball hands Paris FC late penalty as Arsenal draw 2-2 in Women's Champions League
Arsenal and Paris FC drew 2-2 in the French capital on Wednesday in the Women's Champions League after England captain Leah Williamson stopped a short goal-kick with her hand, resulting in a penalty.
With the Gunners leading 2-1 late in the match, Williamson halted what she believed had not been taken so she could take the goal-kick herself, an action that led to the decisive decision against her.
After the ball had gone out of play for a goal-kick, Arsenal goalkeeper Misa Rodriguez played a quick, short pass to Williamson. Williamson had her arm stretched out to stop the ball and place it so that she could take the goal-kick herself. With the ball being still and on the field of play when Rodriguez played the ball to Williamson, that was deemed to be the goal-kick instead of Williamson's attempt and Williamson was penalised for handball.
Maeline Mendy converted the resulting penalty to level the match for Paris FC.
Guidance from Law 16 of the International Football Association Board's (Ifab) laws of the game states: "In goal-kick restarts, if the ball is stationary within the goal area and is kicked by any defending player, the goal-kick is considered to have been taken. "If, after the ball is in play, [a player] commits a handball offence, a penalty kick is awarded if the offence occurred inside the kicker's penalty area." Law 12 from Ifab also states: "It is an offence if a player deliberately touches the ball with their hand/arm."
Similar incidents have occurred in European competition. In November 2024, Aston Villa defender Tyrone Mings committed an identical error in a Champions League match against Club Brugge; Brugge won a penalty that was scored by Hans Vanaken, with the Belgian side winning the match 1-0. Earlier that year, Gunners centre-back Gabriel made the same mistake in a Champions League match against Bayern Munich; Arsenal were given the chance to retake the goal-kick on that occasion. "He [Gabriel] touched the ball with the hand because he thought it was not in game, but it was in game and the referee admitted it was in game and was handball," said then Bayern boss Thomas Tuchel. The now England head coach also said that the error in not awarding Bayern a penalty was a "kid's mistake".
Arsenal assistant coach Aaron D'Antino, conducting post-match media duties, described the club's view of the incident: "If we're looking at what we can control, it's just passing the ball to Leah from what I remember seeing. The ball was still rolling and she [Rodriguez] was moving it to Leah for her to take the goal-kicks as we normally do," said D'Antino. "So maybe the learning in that is how we get the ball to Leah, so we don't put ourselves in that situation." Former Arsenal and Scotland defender Jen Beattie, speaking to Paramount+, criticised the referee's call: "For me, I just don't even know how that happens. Leah knows it's a goal-kick, she's catching the ball. That's shocking from the referee," Beattie told Paramount+. "I would have been fuming and I would have been embarrassed if they gave that. This is not what they're trying to do. It's just beyond frustrating that that's how they've tied the game. "Leah's obviously going [to do that] because she's going to take the goal-kick, not because she's worried about the press or trying to change it - or panicking in any situation. Leah Williamson doesn't panic in those moments, she knows what she's doing. The goalkeeper knows what she's doing as well. "The referee has miscalled it."
The unusual incident leaves the Gunners fourth in the Champions League table after their opening two games, a position they would have climbed from to second had they taken victory in the French capital.
