Three times in France, goalkeepers have been shown yellow cards for coming off their lines under a heavily-criticised new rule that they must have at least one foot on the goal-line when facing a penalty. In both cases the goalkeeper also received a yellow card. The International Football Association Board (IFAB) granted a temporary dispensation at the request of FIFA on Friday to suspend the yellow cards during shootouts, although they will still apply at penalties during normal play. “Penalties are finally being taken in a correct way because, in the past, goalkeepers often saved them by being off the goal line,” said the Italian. “If a law exists, referees must enforce it – particularly when tools like VAR or GLT (goal-line technology) are available.

Source: Punch June 21, 2019 16:07 UTC