Just a general query as to people's approach to when players put their hands up to protect their face from the ball and it hits their hands. I've always had the thought that a) it says nothing in the laws that it is OK to use your hands to protect your face b) it's quicker to get your head out of the way than move your hands up to your face and c) it doesn't hurt that much if a ball does hit you and so I've always given handball in those instances.
However there's a clip on twitter from BT sport, with an expert (I'm sure it's an ex PL referee but can't picture who) talking to Peter Crouch and Robbie Savage and he says in the instances of self defense in protecting the face, you would NOT give it as handball. Clip here
The new LOTG clearly state it is usually handball if the hand / arm is above the shoulder level, which the face is. But then gives no explanation as to when it wouldn't be.
How do people normally deal with "self defense" handball?
However there's a clip on twitter from BT sport, with an expert (I'm sure it's an ex PL referee but can't picture who) talking to Peter Crouch and Robbie Savage and he says in the instances of self defense in protecting the face, you would NOT give it as handball. Clip here
The new LOTG clearly state it is usually handball if the hand / arm is above the shoulder level, which the face is. But then gives no explanation as to when it wouldn't be.
How do people normally deal with "self defense" handball?