The International Football Association Board (IFAB) has announced a new change to the penalty kick laws.
The change comes after Julian Alvarez’s controversial penalty kick in the Real Madrid-Atlético Madrid match was disallowed for touching the ball twice during the shootout.
Many considered this decision unfair, considering that the player did not even realize he touched the ball twice. Even if he did, it would have been illogical to award it as a missed penalty kick, and it would have been better to retake it.
Ultimately, IFAB approved a significant change: kicks will be retaken if the kicker touches the ball twice during the taker’s kick, which is if the kick actually entered the opponent’s net.
A number of other laws were also amended. For example, the goalkeeper was allowed to hold the ball for five seconds, after which an indirect free kick from inside the penalty area would be awarded.
However, the new law gives the goalkeeper the right to touch the ball for eight seconds. If he touches the ball for more than eight seconds, the ball is awarded a corner kick to the opponent.
A new provision has also been added allowing only team captains to communicate with the referee in specific situations. This is to avoid protests and “instill higher values of fairness and mutual respect, which are two fundamental values of the game.”
