Arsenal, Chelsea and Tottenham will be affected by major rule changes to penalty kicks next season. The International Football Association Board (IFAB) is set to bring in a series of rules changes ahead of the 2023/24 campaign that includes what a goalkeeper can and can't do from a penalty kick.
This will see the likes of Aaron Ramsdale, Kepa Arrizabalaga and Hugo Lloris all impacted by the new rule change. As laid out in the IFAB's law changes 2023/24 report, Law 14 'The penalty kick' states: "Clarification that the goalkeeper must not behave in a manner that fails to show respect for the game and the opponent, i.e. by unfairly distracting the kicker."
Further clarification on the amended rule says: "The defending goalkeeper must remain on the goal line, facing the kicker, between the goalposts, without touching the goalposts, crossbar or goal net, until the ball is kicked. The goalkeeper must not behave in a way that unfairly distracts the kicker, e.g. delay the taking of the kick or touch the goalposts, crossbar or goal net."
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The updated ruling means that goalkeeper tactics such as hitting their boots against either post or 'bouncing' the crossbar will not be allowed. These acts are common actions to see from a goalkeeper as the opponent steps up to take a penalty in an effort to distract them and give the goalkeeper an advantage.
Distracting the kicker could be interpreted in a number of different ways and Argentina goalkeeper Emi Martinez's notable antics during the Qatar World Cup would now come under scrutiny and not be allowed following the latest rule changes. The updated penalty kick rule was one of nine tweaks to the laws of the game, which also included an updated explanation of the offside rule.
The additional wording of the law clarifies the guidelines for distinguishing between ‘deliberate play’ and ‘deflection’ based on the expectation that a player who is clearly in an offside position should not become onside on all occasions when an opponent moves and touches the ball. The changes to the penalty kick rule appear to strongly favour the penalty-takers, with goalkeepers now having to come up with different ways of getting into the minds of the opponents from 12 yards - with the new IFAB rules set to take effect from July 1, 2023.
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