Online Reporter
REBOUNDS from penalties could be SCRAPPED by next year’s World Cup finals.
And VAR checks for second yellow cards and corners could also be brought in as football lawmakers consider more radical changes.
In a major break, the serious move to alter more than 134 years of football history would see a missed spot-kick bringing a goal-kick for the opposing side.
While any decision would have to be approved by the law-making International FA Board (Ifab), there is growing backing for the idea that would turn a penalty shot into literally ONE shot.
Senior figures believe that on a majority of occasions the punishment for a handball or foul in the box – the penalty kick – gives the attacking side a far greater chance of scoring a goal than the original infringement had prevented.
To then give the attacking side a second chance of scoring from the rebound is an unfair extra advantage, especially as goalkeepers must have one foot on or behind the line when the kick is taken.
The other argument is that by making the penalty a one-off kick – similar to the rules in hockey for a penalty stroke – it will end all arguments over players “encroaching” as doing so will be irrelevant.
Under the proposed law change, there will automatically be a restart with a dead ball after the initial kick is taken, either a kick-off on the half-way line if the penalty is scored, or a goal-kick if it is not converted, irrespective of whether the keeper turns the ball behind and out of play.
That means iconic moments such as Harry Kane’s extra-time rebound to beat Denmark after Kasper Schmeichel saved his spot kick in the Euro 2020 semi-final would no longer count. Nor would Xabi Alonso’s equaliser in Liverpool’s incredible 2005 Champions League final comeback to beat AC Milan.
The possible law changes are being discussed at the highest levels as world chiefs aim to improve the game ahead of the first 48-team World Cup.
And while the timetable is short, with any alterations needing to be agreed by the end of February to be in force for the 2026 tournament, there is growing momentum in favour of the radical laws rewrite.
Discussions on “expanding the scope” of VAR interventions first surfaced at the end of 2023, when they were on the table at the “annual business meeting” of the law-making International FA Board held at a Heathrow hotel.
It would see video officials potentially able to intervene and recommend decisions overturned on second yellow cards – preventing “unfair” dismissals – and also corners when a “clear error” has been made by the on-field officials.
When the matter was last debated, Ifab agreed there was a consensus in favour of “considering possible amendments and improvements” to VAR protocols.
However, it is understood that only decisions that can be recommended for overturns in a matter of seconds will be considered as within the scope of the VAR changes, with Ifab concerned there should be “no extra delay” caused by checks. Those worries saw the idea kicked, gently, into touch when it was initially mooted, with senior Ifab figures fearing it was a step too far.
But the possible changes were discussed by football’s high command during the Club World Cup in the USA, which Fifa considered a huge success.
Ifab has shown a willingness to make major changes to the laws in the past two years in a bid to make the game more attractive. – Sun
