According to several media, the International Football Federation (FIFA) is preparing a reform of the rules that would remove the penalty kicks.
29.09.2025 19:53
Photo: CTK / AP / Jonathan Moscrop
Changing in the rules about the penalty kick (pictured Kevin de Bruyne) would greatly help the goalkeeper and defending team.
According to former Spanish referee Eduard Iturralde in an interview for Caden Ser, the chairman of the FIFA referees and the former acclaimed arbiter Pierluigi Collina pursues a revolution in penalty kicks that would mean that any unsuccessful penalty – no matter where the ball bounces. The proposal is allegedly already supported by FIFA President Gianni Infantin.
According to the proposed rule, footballers would have only one attempt on the penalty. If the goalkeeper captures or the ball hits the crossbar, the game would be immediately interrupted. Players waiting on the edge of the 16th would no longer have the opportunity to follow the stop and the referees would no longer have to watch and sanction their earlier movement.
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It remains unclear how situations would be addressed when the ball hit the pole or the bar without any touch of the goalkeeper.
If the new rule is submitted and approved, it could be introduced as early as the 2026/27 season – which means that the 2026 World Cup in Canada, Mexico and the US would be the last major tournament with traditional penalties.
However, the change still requires the approval of the International Football Council (IFAB), the only authority authorized to change the rules of football. Previous IFAB discussions allegedly ended with a clear rejection after consultation with leagues and clubs claiming that the importance of the penalty should not be weakened.
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Collina defended this idea in the past, and told La Repubblic that the new rule “would be a blessing for goalies” and complained about footballers who are pushing on the edge of the 16th “like races”.
FIFA would have to formally submit a proposal to ratify reform. Then a three -quarter majority of IFAB members would be needed – which means that Infantino and Collina would still need support for at least two of the four British associations (England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland).
