Penalty rebounds could be OUTLAWED under drastic new rules with plans for VAR changes for yellow cards and corners

The Irish Sun

16-07-2025

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.
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The new rules could be brought in for the 2026 World Cup
Credit: Getty
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Iconic moments such as Harry Kane's winning goal for England against Denmark in the Euro 2020 semi-final wouldn't have stood under these suggested changes
Credit: Getty
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Kasper Schmeichel saved his penalty, but the England captain scored from the rebound
Credit: Getty
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Xabi Alonso scored from the rebound of his saved penalty in Liverpool's iconic 2005 Champions League final comeback against AC Milan
Credit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Players would have one chance to get their penalty on target if the new law comes in
Credit: Getty
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Video officials could even intervene on second yellow cards too
Credit: PA
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Corners could be affected as well if referees make a clear error
Credit: Getty
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.
Trials are ongoing for Arsene Wenger's 'daylight' offside Law proposals, although it is felt more likely the former Arsenal manager's 'torso' proposal will be adopted eventually.
That would see assistant referees and VAR officials no longer looking at feet, head and any other body parts, with any overlap deeming the attacker to be onside and effectively bringing the 'Sunday league' interpretation to the top levels of the game.
At this year's AGM in
Belfast
, at the urging of Fifa President
Gianni Infantino
, Ifab agreed to introduce the new 'eight second' rule for goalkeepers, including the 'five second hand countdown' by referees, which was introduced from June 1 and used at the under-21
Euros
and the Club World Cup..
And at the start of last month, Ifab 'clarified' penalty laws to change the rule around 'accidental' double-touch penalties.
That followed the Julian Alvarez shoot-out effort against Real
Madrid
in the
Champions League
which helped eliminate Atletico Madrid when it was ruled out.
Instead, Ifab determined that similar situations will now see a retake ordered - if the kick is scored - rather than result in no goal and a free-kick for the defending team.
COMMENT
LET me start by laying my cards on the table.
Unlike the vast majority of my colleagues - and, more importantly, the fans - I LOVE VAR.
Yes, there have been too many elongated delays, and that is something that has to be addressed.
Yet there are now far fewer bad and costly decisions.
Fewer offside goals that are allowed. Fewer onside goals disallowed because the flag went up in error.
More accurate decisions on whether fouls were inside or outside the box.
If those calls would otherwise cost a side the World Cup Final, the Champions League or the Prem title, the fans, players and clubs would have every reason to be spewing blood.
But while I hear the arguments over extending the scope of VAR for second yellow cards and 'clearly wrong' corners, it feels like the thin end of the wedge.
If you allow the video bunker to intrude on these decisions, where will it stop?
Next, surely, will be VAR checks on free-kicks and throw-ins - after all, aren't they equally likely to end up with goals being scored?
And can you imagine just how long that would take?
The last World Cup saw matches routinely lasting way over 100 minutes and even in the Prem last season there was an average of just under 10 minutes added time per game.
But add in another layer of VAR oversight and we'll be lucky to see matches finish inside two hours.
Even for me, this would be too much. Thanks, but no thanks.