BVB pull ahead: Why the first goal stood despite Anton’s handball

Borussia Dortmund took the lead just before halftime in their home Champions League match against Villarreal. The guests protested loudly and in large numbers to the referee. Waldemar Anton had previously played the ball with his hand. However, even after a VAR check, Serhou Guirassy's goal stood.

Since interpreting the handball rule has now become more difficult than quantum physics, it's fortunate that referee expert Lutz Wagner provided an explanation on 'prime video'.

"The question is: did the ball touch the hand? If the ball touched Anton's hand and there was no deliberate handball, the goal stands because Anton was not the goalscorer. However, if it is judged as a deliberate handball, it doesn't matter at all whether Anton was the goalscorer. So, the immediacy must be given. That's why it must be a deliberate handball to be punishable."

📸 INA FASSBENDER - AFP or licensors

Cyber Week is here. Get the best deals now on your club's jerseys and fan merchandise in the OneFootball FanShop.

Anton did indeed have the ball on his hand after the header, but there was no intentional or deliberate movement towards the ball, so the first goal in Dortmund counted.

After the break, Guirassy added another. Although he missed a deserved penalty, the BVB striker was able to slot in the rebound. Shortly after, Karim Adeyemi further increased the score. 3:0!

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇩🇪 here.

📸 Christof Koepsel - 2025 Getty Images