Shielding face with hands: offense or not

[pankaye]

I recently refereed a game in which i gave a foul against a team because the defender raised his hands to protect his face against a shot from close range. speaking to the player after the game, he was of the mind that i should not have given a foul as he was only protecting his face from the shot.

In this situation my interpretation is that the player moved his hands to his face to stop the ball (i.e. shield his face) therefore it was a deliberate handball. i don't see any scope in LOTG allowing players to protect themselves from the ball by using their hands. i would award a penalty for such a situation in the penalty area but i certainly wouldn't caution a defender for that because it wasn't unsporting or malicious.

Is my interpretation correct or am i being too strict.

I

 

[Arran Williams]

I think your a bit off there to be honest. i can see what you are saying about it being deliberate but i don't think you can expect a player not to shield their face or privates as another example. You'll cause more problems for yourself giving free kicks for these sorts of things but honestly handball should really be if the hands are in an unatural position such as above the head or in a star jump position lol don't worry about it though nothing serious

 

[andy love]

I recently refereed a game in which i gave a foul against a team because the defender raised his hands to protect his face against a shot from close range. speaking to the player after the game, he was of the mind that i should not have given a foul as he was only protecting his face from the shot.

In this situation my interpretation is that the player moved his hands to his face to stop the ball (i.e. shield his face) therefore it was a deliberate handball. i don't see any scope in LOTG allowing players to protect themselves from the ball by using their hands. i would award a penalty for such a situation in the penalty area but i certainly wouldn't caution a defender for that because it wasn't unsporting or malicious.

Is my interpretation correct or am i being too strict.

I

you say it was close range.

i would follow this:

1. did the player have time to think, i.e was it a natural reaction to protect his head or did he have enough time to brace himself to head the ball.
2. did the player/team gain an advantage by the player moving his hands to protect his head, i.e did the ball drop to his feet like the ball does when a goalkeeper takes the sting out of the ball.

also did the other team appeal or was it a surprise when you gave it. (like a penalty i gave the other day )

if the answer to both of these is yes then blow for a free kick, if one is no then consider no intent

consider this: if a player is in the box for a corner, ball comes in takes a defection and hits a players hand (which is by his sides) he did not move his hands, but the ball drops to his feet and he scores goal or no goal.

 

[pankaye]

I think it was instinctive reaction to protect himself and i think it was a surprise to both teams when i gave the foul.

 

[andy love]

cool, i wouldn't worry about it though as it was in your opinion a foul. and the ref is always right!!! the guild lines i mentioned above is what i remember from my course, after a someone brought it up as a possibility,i guess it is how to apply law 18 really, and it turns out it does happen.