Monday’s quarter-final in the Swedish Cup between Hammarby and AIK at the Tele2 arena was intense with many goal chances in both directions. The home team took the lead after 20 minutes, but AIK equalized just before half-time.
The second half did not have time to start before Bajen took the lead again. This time it was the newly replaced 19-year-old Jusef Erabi who put the ball between the legs of Kristoffer Nordfeldt.
The AIK players gestured and meant that the ball touched Erabi’s hand. After the match, referee Mohammed Al-Hakim met the press and admitted that it was hand.
— The ball touches his arm and he scores, then it’s a hand. No one in the refereeing team saw the situation, but if we had VAR, we would have seen the same images and then we would have judged correctly, says Al-Hakim and then elaborates:
— Top football works like that in decisive moments, above all when there are clear images. But you must be aware that the rule of thumb is difficult. Had this one touched a defender’s hand, it wouldn’t have been a penalty, but since it touches a striker who scores, it’s a hand.
Jusef Erabi himself smiled when he was asked if the ball touched his hand.
– Very possible. But goals are goals, he stated slyly.