A significant shift could be coming to football’s penalty kicks, as proposals are on the table to ban rebounds and introduce a “one-shot” rule.
A Major Rule Change Proposed
Football’s governing bodies are considering a radical change to one of the game’s most iconic moments: the penalty kick. Reports suggest that The International Football Association Board (IFAB) has received proposals to disallow rebounds from penalties.
If approved, this means that if a penalty shot is saved by the goalkeeper or hits the post and comes back into play, the penalty-taker or any teammate cannot attempt to score from the rebound. Essentially, every penalty would become a “one-shot” affair, much like in a penalty shootout.
The Argument for Change: Pierluigi Collina’s Vision
Legendary Italian referee Pierluigi Collina has been a strong advocate for this rule change. He believes there’s an “excessive gap” in opportunities between the attacker and the goalkeeper during a penalty.
Collina points out that around 75% of penalties are already scored. On top of that, the attacking team currently gets an additional chance to score from a rebound. He argues that goalkeepers are at a disadvantage.
His proposed solution is the “one-shot” rule. If the initial kick doesn’t result in a goal (either saved, missed, or hitting the woodwork), play would resume with a goal kick for the defending team. This would also eliminate the common sight of players crowding the penalty area before a kick, often compared to “horses at the starting gates.”
Iconic Moments That Would Change
This potential rule change would alter the very nature of penalties and prevent moments that have become part of football folklore. One such example is Xabi Alonso’s crucial goal in Liverpool’s “Miracle of Istanbul” Champions League final.
In that match, AC Milan’s goalkeeper Dida saved Alonso’s initial penalty, but Alonso was able to pounce on the rebound and score. This completed Liverpool’s comeback from 3-0 down to 3-3, eventually leading to their victory in a shootout. Under the proposed new rule, that rebound goal would not have counted.
What Happens Next?
A rule tweak of this magnitude wouldn’t be implemented immediately. Proposals are typically discussed at IFAB’s annual business meeting in November, followed by a vote at the Annual General Meeting (AGM) in March.
Historically, IFAB has been cautious with rule changes, often trialing them first. However, in recent times, they have shown a willingness to consider more radical modifications to the game.
- The proposed rule would ban rebounds from penalty kicks.
- Penalties would become “one-shot” attempts, similar to shootouts.
- The aim is to balance the advantage between attacker and goalkeeper.
- Such a change would eliminate specific types of iconic goals from football’s future.
The football world will be watching closely to see if this significant alteration to one of the game’s most dramatic moments comes to pass.
