Premier League penalty rule will not change despite reports claiming otherwise

New rules that could be introduced in the Premier League and Champions League were under the spotlight at the 133rd annual general meeting of the International Football Association Board (IFAB) this weekend. (via Mirror) On Monday it was reported that the IFAB has decided to change the penalty law for efforts that are either repelled by the goalkeeper or strike the woodwork and stay in play. Premier League official Dermot Gallagher has explained  the supposed new law and how it would work. "We've seen Manchester United's Paul Pogba this year score a penalty from his own rebound and on Saturday the Arsenal penalty was saved and the players chased it down and the ball was still alive," said Gallagher. "Now if it hits the post or the goalkeeper saves and it comes back out to the forward, the game will be stopped, there'll be no second chance.” The IFAB did think about it, but dropped the idea back in November. As such it wasn't on the agenda in Aberdeen last week at the AGM. Instead, discussions in Scotland were more focused on other areas such as handball and improvement of VAR. The IFAB agreed that a definition of handball needs to be “more precise”. "On the topic of defining handball, a decision was taken by The IFAB to provide a more precise and detailed definition for what constitutes handball, in particular with regard to the occasions when a non-deliberate/accidental handball will be penalised. "For example a goal scored directly from the hand/arm (even if accidental) and a player scoring or creating a goal-scoring opportunity after having gained possession/control of the ball from their hand/arm (even if accidental) will no longer be allowed.” The IFAB also approved substitutes can leave the pitch at the nearest touchline, rather than needing to exit at the halfway line. One penalty rule that is set to change however regards goalkeepers, who will only need to have one foot on the line at a penalty, as of 2019-20.

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