Sofie Börjesson means that the goalkeepers can shout that the ball has hit the face, even if it hits another body part first. If so, there should be no deportation.
– It’s wrong, of course. That is not the way to do it. Even if you want to win, she adds.
In the first Swedish Championship finalwhich is played in a series about the best of five, between Sävehof and Skuru it was judged according to the rule twice:
Only when Sävehof’s national team player Jamina Roberts shot Skurum goalkeeper Josephine Nordstrøm in the face. Roberts was sent off for two minutes, during which time Skuru was able to pull away to a four-goal lead.
Then when Skuru’s star Alexandra Bjärrenholt met Sävehof’s goalkeeper Wilma Kroon Andersson at face height – an expulsion Bjärrenholt strongly protested against when the ball hit the shoulder before it went up in the face.
– When you look at the video, you see that it is an incorrect expulsion, says Bjärrenholt.
– The judges can not judge for things they do not see. The goalkeeper will shout and shout that it is in the face. The judges can not take it in retrospect. I think it’s going to be a little skewed. But at the same time we have to protect our goalkeepers, so there may have to be some wrong expulsion at some point. It’s just sour when it happens in a final.
The rule that shots in the face expulsion will be introduced ahead of the current season. This after several goalkeepers suffered concussions in a short time. Internationally, the rule will not be implemented until next season, but Sweden, together with a handful of other countries, has chosen to introduce it already this year.
Exceptions to the rule apply if the shooter is disturbed at the moment of shooting, by a push or a blow from a defensive player. Or if the ball hits the goalkeeper on the shoulder or any other body part first.
– It is good that it exists for the injuries that have been previously reduced. That is of course the most important thing, says goalkeeper Sofie Börjesson.
She feels that rule given her and her goalkeeper colleagues greater protection, especially in vulnerable situations such as penalty throws and edge shots. But also says that it is the responsibility of the goalkeepers themselves not to call for incorrect expulsions for the team to gain advantages.
– I do not really know how to do so that the reaction of the goalkeepers does not automatically be that “it went in the face”, because it may be that it first takes somewhere else. That is probably the problem. But we goalkeepers must make sure to respect the rule because it is for our safety.
As a shooter, Skurus Alexandra Bjärrenholt believes that it is important to make the balance at the moment of shooting.
– You have to be a little more careful about shooting close to the head. You are responsible for where the ball goes, she says.
The reigning champion team Skuru won the first final with 29-27 and has a chance to take a real grip on the final series at home in Eriksdalshallen on Friday night.
For Sävehof, it is important to recharge from the loss at the latest.
– We must try to maintain our self-confidence, we have still won six straight matches in the playoffs before this one. Nothing is decided after a match. And we have won in Stockholm before, says Sofie Börjesson.