On Friday, the International Football Association Board, IFAB, unveiled new changes to the laws of the game from the 2023-2024 season. Law 14 in particular, the one concerning penalties and shots on goal, has undergone a rather drastic change. Here is the new version:
“The goalkeeper must stay on his/her goal line, facing the kicker, and between the posts and not touch the posts or the crossbar or the goal nets before the shot is taken. The goalkeeper may not unduly distract the shooter, for example by delaying the execution of the penalty or by touching the posts, the crossbar or the net”.
Pretty much everything that Emiliano Martinez didn’t do in the final of the last World Cup. Ball voluntarily sent away so that Aurélien Tchouameni gets out of his routine before hitting, words towards Randal Kolo Muani or Kylian Mbappé: the Argentinian goalkeeper voluntarily wanted to derail the French shooters.
An attitude that made people talk but which, despite everything, is unanimous among the brotherhood of goalkeepers.
Therefore, this new rule appears as an additional constraint imposed on the goalkeeper, a position sacrificed on the altar of spectacle and goals at all costs.
“I’m starting to worry about the future of our position, for the future of the goalkeeper… We had already changed the penalty rule to force goalkeepers to have one foot on the line.” said Charles Itandje, former RC Lens doorman and RMC Sport consultant.