The International Football Association Board (IFAB) has confirmed that goalkeepers at the 2019 Women’s World Cup, will not be booked if they move off their line during a penalty shoot-out.
The new ruling, which sees a penalty retaken if a goalkeeper does not keep two feet on the goal line, has been tested during the tournament in France.
It has caused controversy, with the use of VAR meaning goalkeepers, have been penalised and booked, for moving a matter of inches only moments before spot-kicks have been taken.
Scotland’s Lee Alexander was the latest culprit, costing Shelley Kerr’s side a place in the knockout rounds when Argentina fought back to draw 3-3 on Wednesday.
And while the IFAB stands by the new law, the body approved FIFA’s request to stop an automatic yellow card being issued to the goalkeepers, should they break the rule during a penalty shoot-out.
The IFAB board of directors today approved a request from FIFA for a temporary dispensation relating to Kicks from the Penalty Mark (KFPM) in Law 10 – Determining the Outcome of a Match at the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2019.
“The IFAB fully supports goalkeepers being penalised for not conforming with the Laws of the Game and gaining an unfair advantage.
“However, for any KFPM during the knockout stages of the ongoing FIFA Women’s World Cup 2019 in France, a temporary dispensation has been given to FIFA from the requirement to caution a goalkeeper who is penalised for an offence which results in a kick being retaken,” a statement read.