The debut of video review in women’s soccer is causing confusion and has pushed FIFA to make a rule change heading into the World Cup knockout phase.
FIFA on Friday received approval from the game’s lawmaking body to suspend the rule that goalkeepers must be shown yellow cards for stepping off the goal-line during penalty shootouts.
With video assistant referees (VAR) able to keep a closer eye on infringements, FIFA feared that more goalkeepers could be penalized — and sent off if it is a second booking with no substitute allowed during shootouts, but the penalty kick would still be retaken.
The International Football Association Board granted the temporary dispensation, which means that goalkeepers can only be booked for stepping off the line with both feet during a penalty-kick in normal time.
“The caution for a goalkeeper who commits an offense was introduced in the laws as a deterrent,” FIFA refereeing chief Pierluigi Collina said. “But what better deterrent than the VAR? It’s not possible that a goalkeeper moves both her feet off the goal line without being noticed. In addition, we felt that the risk for a second caution was too high considering the number of penalties that are taken.”
Penalty-kicks have already been retaken during the group stage, because VAR has scrutinized goalkeepers’ movements more closely.
Argentina were facing elimination after missing a penalty-kick, but it was ordered to be retaken after a video review, and the team scored to finish 3-3, clinching third place in Group D and a place in the round of 16.
“If a goalkeeper commits an offense like encroaching before the penalty-kick is taken, the VAR cannot do anything but intervene and inform the referee that the penalty-kick must be retaken and the goalkeeper cautioned,” Collina said. “All the teams were duly informed at the beginning of March and goalkeepers had enough time to get used to it.”
However, the law could be revisited at future meetings of the board, which includes four FIFA delegates and a representative from each of the four British associations.
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