Arsenal held by Paris FC after Williamson handball gifts late penalty

Arsenal threw away a win in the Women's Champions League with one of the strangest penalties you will see all season.

The holders drew 2-2 with Paris FC on 30 September after defender Leah Williamson handled a goal-kick she thought had not been taken, according to BBC Sport. It cost them victory.

Arsenal had held a two-goal lead in the game, ESPN records. They were still ahead 2-1 late on when goalkeeper Misa Rodriguez played a quick, short goal-kick to Williamson.

Williamson had planned to take the kick herself. She believed the ball was not yet in play. She stopped it with her hand.

Referee Iuliana Demetrescu gave a penalty. The laws left her little choice.

A goal-kick counts as taken once the ball is still inside the goal area, that box in front of the goal, and has been kicked by a defender. That is IFAB Law 16 guidance. A handball after the ball is live inside your own box means a penalty.

Maeline Mendy scored it to make it 2-2.

Arsenal sit fourth in the Champions League table after their first two games. A win in Paris would have lifted them to second.

For fans, this means frustration rather than damage. Two games is early. But dropped points hurt in a short league phase where every place shapes the knockout draw.

What makes this stand out is how rare it feels, and how familiar it is. In November 2024, Aston Villa defender Tyrone Mings made the same mistake against Club Brugge. He picked up a short goal-kick from goalkeeper Emi Martinez. Hans Vanaken scored the penalty in a 1-0 defeat.

Arsenal have been here before, too. Defender Gabriel handled a goal-kick against Bayern Munich in 2024. On that night Arsenal were allowed to retake the kick. There was no reprieve this time.

There is history between these clubs. Paris FC knocked Arsenal out of the Women's Champions League in September 2023 after a penalty shootout, Reuters reported. This draw will sting in a different way, because Arsenal had control and let it go.