Picture Perfect: The Hand of God? – View Magazine
Teh Enduring Mystery of the ‘Hand of God’ Goal
On June 22, 1986, during the quarterfinal match between Argentina and England at the 1986 FIFA World cup in Mexico City, Diego Maradona scored a goal that remains one of the most controversial – and celebrated – in football history.Frequently enough referred to as the “Hand of God” goal, the incident continues to spark debate and fascination over three decades later.
The goal occurred in the 51st minute of the match. Maradona, having received the ball in midfield, advanced towards the English goal. A challenge from steve hodge, an english midfielder, deflected the ball upwards, and Maradona, running into the penalty area, reached out and punched the ball into the net past goalkeeper Peter Shilton.
Remarkably, the Tunisian referee, Ali Bin Nasser, did not see the infraction and allowed the goal to stand. Bin Nasser later explained in a 2023 interview with The Guardian that the speed of the action and the positioning of the players made it impossible to have a clear view. He also stated that, at the time, the laws of the game did not explicitly require a foul to be called if the hand was used unintentionally.
Maradona himself famously acknowledged using his hand, but immediately after the match, he attributed the goal to a little with the head of Maradona and a little with the hand of God
. This quote, widely reported by The New York Times in 2005 when Maradona finaly confessed, cemented the goal’s iconic status and the enduring nickname.
The Aftermath and Legacy
The “Hand of God” goal sparked immediate controversy. English players and fans protested the decision, arguing that the goal was clearly illegal. However, the rules at the time were ambiguous, and without clear video evidence – which was not readily available in 1986 - there was little that coudl be done.
In the years since, the incident has been replayed countless times, analyzed from every angle, and debated endlessly. It has become a symbol of cunning, controversy, and the passion of football. The goal continues to be discussed in the context of Video Assistant Referee (VAR) technology, which was introduced in 2018 and woudl undoubtedly have overturned the decision had it been available in 1986. ESPN details how VAR would have impacted