The way goalkeepers put their bodies, and particularly their heads, on the line, it’s only right that officials look to protect them.
I’ll be honest, though, I think the decision to disallow West Ham’s equaliser is marginal. Jarrod Bowen doesn’t do everything to avoid contact with Edouard Mendy and does leave a trailing leg so you can say that may constitute a foul in the eyes of a referee.
But, as a goalkeeper, I would say Mendy is expecting contact in a situation like this. At St James’ Park, I certainly don’t think it was a foul on Crystal Palace goalkeeper Vicente Guaita by Newcastle’s Joe Willock.