A bizarre mistake from Arsenal defender Leah Williamson proved costly as the Gunners conceded a late penalty in their 2-2 Women’s Champions League draw against Paris FC.
With Arsenal leading 2-1 late in Wednesday’s match, England captain Williamson stopped a short goal-kick with her hand, believing the restart had not yet been taken and that she was supposed to take it herself.
However, goalkeeper Misa Rodriguez had already legally restarted play. Williamson was therefore penalised for handball inside the penalty area, allowing Maeline Mendy to convert from the spot and earn Paris FC a draw.
The result leaves Arsenal fourth in the Champions League table after their opening two matches. Victory in the French capital would have moved them into second place.
After the ball went out of play for a goal-kick, Rodriguez attempted to play a quick, short pass to Williamson.
Williamson stretched out her arm to stop the ball before placing it down, apparently intending to take the goal-kick herself.
However, because the ball was stationary inside the goal area when Rodriguez kicked it towards Williamson, the referee considered the goal-kick to have already been taken.
That meant the ball was in play when Williamson deliberately handled it.
Referee Iuliana Demetrescu subsequently awarded Paris FC a penalty, which Mendy converted to make it 2-2.
Despite Arsenal’s frustration, the decision was consistent with the laws of the game.
Under Law 16 of the International Football Association Board’s laws, a goal-kick is considered taken when the ball is stationary inside the goal area and is kicked by a defending player.
Once the ball is in play, normal rules apply. If a player then commits a handball offence inside their own penalty area, the opposition is awarded a penalty.
Law 12 also states that deliberately touching the ball with the hand or arm constitutes a handball offence.
Rodriguez had therefore legally restarted play before Williamson handled the ball, making the penalty the correct outcome under the laws.
Williamson is not the first player to be caught out by an unusual goal-kick misunderstanding.
In November 2024, Aston Villa defender Tyrone Mings made an almost identical mistake during a Champions League match against Club Brugge.
Mings picked up the ball after goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez had already taken the goal-kick. Club Brugge were awarded a penalty, which Hans Vanaken converted in a 1-0 victory.
Villa manager Unai Emery described the incident as the biggest mistake he had witnessed in his career.
Earlier in 2024, Arsenal defender Gabriel was involved in a similar incident against Bayern Munich in the Champions League.
On that occasion, Gabriel handled the ball after goalkeeper David Raya had played it to him from a goal-kick. However, Arsenal were allowed to retake the restart rather than Bayern being awarded a penalty.
Then-Bayern manager Thomas Tuchel argued that the ball had already been in play and described the failure to award a penalty as a mistake.
Arsenal assistant coach Aaron D’Antino handled post-match media duties and suggested the team would learn from the incident.
D’Antino explained that the intention was for Williamson to take the goal-kick and said Arsenal would examine how the ball is transferred to her in similar situations to avoid another misunderstanding.
Former Arsenal and Scotland defender Jen Beattie disagreed with the referee’s interpretation of the incident.
Speaking to Paramount+, Beattie argued that Williamson’s intention was clearly to take the goal-kick rather than deliberately gain an advantage by handling the ball.
However, regardless of the players’ intentions, the laws meant Rodriguez’s initial kick had restarted play. Once Williamson deliberately stopped the ball with her hand inside the penalty area, the referee had grounds to award Paris FC a penalty.
